Armed aides irk Duterte

DAVAO CITY — Irked by politicians from neighboring provinces who bring in their armed bodyguards here, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police to strictly enforce the firearms ban.

"I have been stretching my patience too long before on this matter because of numerous requests by politicians. But now, I am sorry to tell them that they have to follow the rule if they want to come here," he said.

Duterte was apparently enraged by the fatal shooting last week of a local trader’s son allegedly by a grandson of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan.

The suspect, Mohamad Ampatuan Bahnarin, 18, allegedly shot Carlo Asistido at the Venue entertainment complex here using a gun reportedly handed to him by one of his bodyguards. — Edith Regalado