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Thursday, May 20, 2004
Show drug test results of nat'l bets: Duterte
By Ben O. Tesiorna and Raquel C. Bagnol
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Wednesday challenged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to first show to him the results of the drug examinations on all the winning candidates from the president down to the municipal councilor before submitting himself to the mandatory drug testing on all elected officials.
Duterte said he has nothing against the mandatory drug testing but said that what he does not like is when the Comelec "rush things up".
"I don't mind giving it (urine sample) to somebody else except to the Comelec. Ayoko kasing inaapura ako. Napipika ako," Duterte said.
Informed on the repercussion of his refusal to submit to the mandatory drug testing Duterte simply replied, "Eh di ang ang Comelec ang mag-mayor."
It was learned that no elected official could take his oath of office unless he/she submits to the drug test.
Duterte meanwhile said that he will not lift the smoking and firecracker bans as long as he remains the chief executive of the city.
"If you want to lift the smoking and the firecracker bans which I have imposed, then you'll have to wait for another mayor to sit down because I will not lift it as long as I sit as mayor of Davao City," Duterte made the statement during his first television appearance after being re-elected as city mayor at ACQ-KBN Network Tuesday night.
"Kining mga pagbawal nako sa smoking ug sa paggamit ug firecrackers kada
pasko, dili ni para sa akoa kundili para sa inyong kaayohan (This is not for my own welfare but for your own good). What can I get out of imposing bans for myself? Wala (none)," Duterte said.
On the issue of the firecracker ban during Christmas time, Duterte said it is silly and never sensible to celebrate Christmas when more harm than good will be done.
"It's very silly to celebrate Christmas nga daghan kaayo ang maputlan ug kamot, tiil o dili ba mangabuta kay naigo ug firecrackers? Imbis mag-celebrate adto na hinuon sa hospital magtapok (It's silly to celebrate Christmas when many people will lose an arm, feet or even go blind because of firecrackers and spend Christmas in the hospital instead)," he said.
On smoking, Duterte earlier said people are entitled to smoke whenever they want, but others are also entitled to inhale smoke-free air.
He said the risk streamline smokers get are higher than those who actually smoked.
"My vision is for Davao City to be a peaceful and safe place to live in, that's why I impose some restrictions which not all of you may like, but what I say is final. As long as I'm still the mayor, I will not lift the bans my administration earlier imposed," Duterte said. RCB
(May 20, 2004 issue)
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