Saturday, June 23, 2007 Mayor doesn't care for travel advisories By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte doesn’t care less if the United States and other countries issue travel advisories against traveling to Davao City or Mindanao as a whole.
"It is a government's prerogative to do that in order to protect its people. My part is to protect the Dabawenyos that is why I do not want military men of other countries tinkering with bombing investigations here. Kay kana sila, ginasunod sa gubot maong (Trouble follows them everywhere that's why) the bigger the tendency for bombing while they are here," Duterte said.
The mayor was leery about American investigators coming in whenever a bomb incident occurs saying this will lead to dependency of sorts.
"Everytime nga naay putok, tawagon sila (there's an explosion they are called in). That would mean the Americans have the solutions, di na Pilipino (not the Filipinos)," Duterte said.
According to Duterte, the Filipinos are well-equipped to deal with the problem and solve it.
"We understand the problem and are agitating for reforms that will serve justice. That is enough to start with," Duterte said.
On another issue, Duterte said the MILF's opposition to Fr. Eliseo R. Mercado's appointment as head of the negotiating panel is valid.
"The person the government should appoint must be someone who loves his fellowmen equally, must understand the problem and its root, aims to correct the wrong, somebody who does not want to fight and can transcend over the religious issues," Duterte said.
Duterte also said that there should be no griping over the Mercado issue as the government has corrected it in time.
Duterte, however, refused to comment on the resignation of government peace panel head Silvestre Afable Sr. saying the issue now is to find somebody up for the job.
