Duterte enforces ‘no permit, no rally’ in Davao

DAVAO CITY -- The City Government will release guidelines on “no permit, no rally” policy in Davao after violence broke out during the dispersal of the picket in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office on Wednesday.

"Dili na kampante sa rally na militante ang nagpaluyo kay ilaha tumong media mileage showing violence. No permit, no rally, assembly, etc. will be strictly enforced from hereon," Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told Sun.Star Davao in a text message.

She also expressed her dismay over the decision of the DSWD and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) not to file complaints against the protesters, who also ransacked Tuesday the DSWD office and looted some relief goods.

"Kung wala complainant, walay kaso. But it doesn't mean we approve of the decision of the DSWD and DCPO. They should keep in mind that what happened was a grave disrespect to their respective institutions," the mayor said.

She said the City Government was not part of that meeting, agreement signing and press conference.

"Wala sila victory sa Davao City. Wala man ko musugot maghatag ug bugas diri sa Davao, mao ilahang bugas tua sa Tagum (They cannot claim it as victory on their part. I did not allow the release of rice here in Davao City). Also [I] did not honor the release of the two rioters until they all left Davao City," she said.

Duterte-Carpio ordered the dispersal of the protesters on Wednesday morning, giving DCPO chief Ronald Dela Rosa "blanket authority to do whatever needs to be done to end it as soon as possible."

However, after the four-hour closed-door negotiation held at the conference room of the DSWD on Wednesday night, Karlos Trangia, Cirila Anding, and Grace Corso, all leaders of Barug Katawhan; DSWD Assistant Secretary Camilo Gudmalin, and DSWD-Davao Director Priscilla Razon inked an agreement that provides no charges will be filed against anyone.

Before crafting the black-and-white agreement, Gudmalin said they decided to provide at least 100 sacks of rice for Typhoon Pablo survivors who joined the protest.

But protesters on Thursday marched anew from Assumption College of Davao to Sta. Ana police station to demand for the release of Daniel Pinang, 33, and Conrado Capili Jr., 24, both from Compostela Valley.

The two were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly throwing stones and mauling five policemen during the commotion at the picket line in front of the DSWD office.

Trangia said they went to the police station to fetch Capili and Pinang and not to create another standoff since their agreement required them to "forgive and forget."

Meanwhile, Juland Suazo, spokesperson for Panalipdan, said he is proud to be part of the protest, which he claimed made history in Southern Mindanao.

"The typhoon survivors stood up and are struggling for environmental justice and genuine relief and rehabilitation not militaristic and deceptive counter-insurgency war strategy Oplan Bayanihan," he posted in his Facebook account. "This is asserting civilian supremacy!"

He also chided Duterte-Carpio for being "anti-poor."

"Horrible fact: Sara Duterte is anti-poor. She ordered the dispersal of typhoon survivors asking for equitable relief services to survive from intense hunger in the countryside. She is arrogant because she has political power," he posted.

Duterte-Carpio, when asked to comment, said: "Yes, ako na ang contrabida at negastar. Ako na ang nangawat, nag rally without permit, nag instigate ug riot, nag organize ug mob rule and lawlessness, nagdisrupt sa law and order. Ako na. ako na ang bangungot ni Juland Suazo."

The DSWD protest ended Thursday, as protesters started to leave the city on their way home to Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental provinces, following the signing of the agreement Wednesday evening.

The agreement was finalized around 7 p.m. after the four hours of closed-door negotiation of parties involved in the issue at the DSWD conference room, witnessed by Rev. Sarly Templado and Sr. Noemi Degala of Balsa Mindanao; Josephine Frasco, a DSWD provincial officer of Compostela Valley; Superintendent Caezar Cabuhat, chief of the city Sta. Ana Police Station; and Ceasrio Joel Espejo, director of DSWD central office’s social marketing service.

Gudmalin told the media that before they discussed the whole agreement, they decided first to provide at least 100 sacks of rice for the survivors of the Typhoon Pablo, who have joined the protest so that they will have something to bring when they get home.

"Gi-deduct namo ang 100 sacks of rice gikan didto sa 10,000 sacks of rice na giabot diri sa DSWD, unya gihatag karong gabii (Wednesday) sa ila (protesters) aron naa sila’y mabalon inig pauli. Kay matud pa sa ilang lederes, maayo ng naa sila’y mabitbit na bugas pauli," Gudmalin said.

Based on a two-page seven-point agreement, written in Cebuano, the DSWD with the law enforcers and members of the Barug Katawhan, including the victims of the Typhoon Pablo, have vowed not to disrupt the process of distribution of relief goods.

"Wala namo na butang sa amo kasabutan kung kanus-a taman ang validation pero kini kinahanglan mahuman dayon. Hopefully mahuman namo ang validation sulod sa isa ka semana before magsugod ang pag distribute sa mga bugas," Gudmalin said.

Trangia, in behalf of the protesters, expressed a sigh of relief and gratitude that they are not going to face charges with the DSWD and the police, and that their detained members were released.

With regard their demand for DSWD to practice transparency, Gudmalin said though that was not discussed during their negotiation with the Barug Katawhan, they will still validate the accusations against the DSWD’s relief and rehabilitation operations.

"They have the every right to ask. And we’re validating those allegations already and preparing the documents needed on the relief and rehabilitation operations. Sa karon, dili pa jud nato madalidali an tanan kay atong focus is ma-address ning mga panginahanglunon sa Pablo victims," Gudmalin said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)