Davao City most dangerous for criminals: official

DAVAO City Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the city remains to be the most dangerous place for criminals.

"Dili nako ibaylo ang mga criminal sa mga inosente nga kinabuhi (I prefer the lives of innocent people over the lives of criminal)," Duterte angrily said in his television program Tuesday.

The vice mayor said this in reaction to persistent allegations of human rights violations in the city.

Duterte said Davao City will not tolerate lawless people and those who will not care for the welfare of others.

He dared agencies and groups who have been accusing him of violating human rights to react to his stand.

Duterte said neither the Catholic Church nor the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) can link another controversy to his position, noting that what he just wanted was to promote the common good of the Dabawenyos.

He said he can assure the security and safety of Dabawenyos from lawless elements and criminals who have no other intentions but to create chaos in the city.

It can be recalled that after the Sasa wharf bombing in 2003, Duterte said he will make the city a hell for criminals and terrorists.

Church and human rights groups said even criminals deserve a fair treatment and they entitled to equal protection of their rights.