DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and House Speaker Prospero Nograles continued with their word war over the weekend as both officials accuse each other of using government funds for their own personal use.
In his reaction to the November 7 story of Sun.Star Davao entitled "Duterte-Nograles word war flares anew," Nograles said the mayor's statement was "so childish."
"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.
In the story, Duterte ridiculed Nograles for saying that Davao City officials must explain to the United States of America with regard to the series of summary executions in the city which, Nograles said, has brought humiliation to him being a Dabawenyo.
Duterte replied with a reminder to Nograles that he is the mayor of Davao City and not of any US city, thus he has no obligation to explain the killings to the US government.
"Excuse me, weird si Nograles. Bakit? Akala ba nya ako ang mayor ng Washington DC? Mayor ako ng Davao City. Does he have Alzheimer's disease? I am responsible only to the people of Davao City," Duterte reacted Friday.
In a text message Saturday, Nograles said the issue on killings is not the City Government's sole concern as this is also being closely watched by the international community.
"Korek, mayor sya sa city with most number of summary killings, notorious death squad and others. Human rights violation is an international issue in every parliament gatherings, causing us so much humiliation. That is the problem," Nograles said.
To this, Duterte replied: "Humiliated sya? Good for him. Bakit ngayon lang?"
On the issue of using government funds for his travel to the US to watch the fights of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, Nograles said he never uses his congressional budget in going to the US just to watch the Pacquiao fights.
"Even as congressman or majority leader and as speaker, I watched all of the Pacman boxing fights in Las Vegas on my own personal funds, repeat personal. You can check the records of the House of Representatives. Maybe the mayor is so used to charging all his local and foreign trips and those of his councilmen automatically using city taxpayer's funds or maybe the peace and order money? Well I do not," Nograles said.
"Check the records of the city if I spent a single centavo (from the city coffers) in my trips," Duterte retorted.
Feedback: Your views and reactions
Explain to the US?? What a
Explain to the US?? What a lackey! Why don't you just bend over, Mr. Prospero...
And what international shame are you talking about??? Maybe, you're talking about you and your band of politico.
I don't know how you fool the residents in my district, but you can't fool me, and you can't fool the people of Davao.
Here is the difference
Here is the difference between the two politicians:
Mayor Duterte is honest and straightforward human being. He proved this time and again to Davaoeños for many years in his political time. He is well-liked by poor people and very reasonable person.
Congressman Nograles - is an opportunist, a liar, and he is hungry for power. He thinks that being a congressman will make him popular like Pacman. What he does is to make his family name known to Davao by creating a park under his father's name (The most stupid move).
He is lucky is not a congressman here in the US. He would be in jail for doing so and would be charged with abusing his authority and using the taxpayer's money for his gain. He is corrupt like any other politician in Manila. He is in same can of worm where most are abusing their power.
He should just keep his mouth shut and not stir trouble because it would not do him any good and he is the one who is acting like a child and it is very very obvious. What a pity for a lawmaker.
Nograles is a perpetual
Nograles is a perpetual liar!!! I've lived here in the US for over 23 years and for Nograles to claim that the US is concerned about the killings in Davao is a total lie and made up to be used as ammunition in his attack against Mayor Duterte.
Our US government has plenty of agendas to deal with. Davao issues are not or far from our agenda and not in our list of priorities, except perhaps the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao. We have local issues we need to resolve here and the killings in Davao are nothing compared to the killings in Washington DC alone. You can research it yourself and also do me a favor and research also if Davao City killings made the headlines here in the US in the past.
I highly doubt (bet 100 dollars) if the politicians in Washington will even ask Nograles about Davao. He is not known here and only the president of the Philippines is known in DC (senators and congressmen/women are not) and that's the fact.
He lied to all and tried to justify to Dabawenyos that his US visit was productive. In fact, all he did here was waste taxpayer’s money for his travel and to watch Manny Pacquiao's bout. Why can't he just be honest and say, “I went to the US to watch the boxing bout” instead of making a story that nobody will buy. Dabawenyos are not stupid. Our politicians in DC are busy dealing with our healthcare and economic (unemployment) issues at this present times and that is more of the headlines here since Obama took office.
I am a Dabawenyo and I totally support Mr. Duterte’s handling of the city. Nograles wants nothing but popularity and he thinks this will help him in his career but in the end he makes a fool out of himself and he is tarnishing his image. I do not know the idiot but from what I hear and read, he is nothing but a troublemaker.
Be a man, Nograles!!!!!
Please, let Duterte know that we in this foreign land are all behind him and Sarah 100%.
Keep up the good work mayor and God bless you and your daughter and thank you for being good and kind to the poor people and the citizens of Davao.
Dabawenyo residing in the US
Tanong ko lang kay speaker,
Tanong ko lang kay speaker, yung mga paglagay ba ng pangalan niya sa halos lahat na karatula ng projects ng dpwh, public schools, fire trucks, at kung saan-saan pa, personal expense din ba? Sa lahat ng lugar sa Mindanao na napuntahan ko na, only in Davao na pati pangalan ng chief of staff ng speaker ang kasali sa mga karatula na nabanggit ko. Personal expense din ba ni karlo yun? Nagtatanong lang...
Hey mga pare, you're just
Hey mga pare, you're just putting more fuel into the fire. Mayor Duterte and Nograles are not kids anymore. Speaking against the other will not help the city move forward. Instead, they should discuss their differences and come up with the common goal that will help the city to solve its problem. I live in Davao City as well since 1996 in Agdao; I was born in luzon. I've personally seen people in Agdao get killed since I used to be a habal2x driver apart from being a seaman. And I realized that life is worthless to petty criminals in Davao City.
I'm pro life and I don't like killings but I don't like petty crimes either. One problem in Davao City that needs to be addressed is unemployment. I know many people who were habalhabal drivers for years even if they are college graduates and this leaves me asking why? I now work in a Belgian flag ship, mostly with European people, and I don't think they are better than Pinoys.