Friday, June 01, 2007 Malacañang ‘pressures’ Duterte over holding of Balikatan in Davao By Ben O. Tesiorna
SOME Malacañang officials are reportedly asking Regional Peace and Order Council chair and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to allow the holding of a Balikatan war exercise in the city and some parts of Davao Region.
The city mayor is however not budging as he reiterated his earlier position against the holding of Balikatan war exercises in the city, saying that such a move is tantamount to inviting trouble.
Duterte admitted that a Malacañang official called him up about two months ago and asked him to allow the holding of the US-RP war exercise in the region.
The mayor said he told the official he would not allow such and if they insist and something "explodes" in the city or anywhere in the region then it would be their fault not his.
"Pag nagkagulo dito (If trouble occurred here), you answer for it. Maghuhugas kamay ako (I will cleanse) in public," Duterte told the Malacañang official.
He said his stand against the holding of Balikatan war exercise in the region is due to his fears that enemies of the American government might do something atrocious during the US troops' stay in the city or anywhere in the region.
"Para kasing magnet sa mga terorista yang mga US soldiers (US soldiers are like magnets to terrorists). Mura na sila (US soldiers) ug asukal, tapos ang terorista ang mga mamang (They are like sugar, and the terrorists are the crawling insects). Miski asa na nimo sila ibutang, sundan gyud na sila (Wherever you place them, they will be followed)," Duterte said.
He said he simply does not want to put the Dabawenyos into harm's way just because of the Americans.
Duterte admitted having an "unspoken truce" with the New People's Army to spare Davao City from becoming a battle ground. But with the US soldiers' presence, this truce might be broken, he said.
"But I am not saying that I am surrendering to the communist. I have full confidence on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Di na natin kailangan ang expertise kuno ng mga Amerikano (We don’t need the supposed expertise of the Americans)," Duterte said.
Despite the mayor's stand against Balikatan though, unconfirmed reports reaching Sun.Star Davao revealed several intelligence operatives from US and Australia are already in the city to assess the situation.
