Thursday, February 28, 2008 Dutertes no-show in Arroyo's visit By Carlo P. Mallo and Ben O. Tesiorna
THE city's top two officials were nowhere to be found during the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday, raising suspicions once more that City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is already distancing himself from the President.
Association of Barangay Captains president and City Councilor Paolo Z. Duterte was also not among those who met the President.
According to City Mayor's Chief of Staff Patricia Melissa B. Ruivivar, the city mayor had to go to Metro Manila for his medical check up, while Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte is in Cebu City for the election of officers of the Young Legislators Congress.
"She (Sara) has to be there as she is an officer also," Ruivivar told Sun.Star Davao in an interview Wednesday.
"It was purely coincidental that they are both not here," Ruivivar said discounting that the mayor or the vice mayor were trying to avoid the President who is now facing one of the greatest political crisis in her tenure.
"The mayor will return on March 5," she added.
Ruivivar was among those who welcomed the President when she arrived at the Davao International Airport at around 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Officer-in-Charge Mayor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz was the one who accompanied the President as she toured various places in Davao City Wednesday, along with the regional executives of the different national agencies.
In her welcome remarks at the Grand Regal Hotel Wednesday afternoon, Ortiz informed Arroyo that Mayor Duterte is on sick leave and is in Manila, while Vice Mayor Duterte is in Cebu attending an official function, thus the failure to welcome her.
A confidante of the Dutertes, however, said the absence of the mayor and his daughter and son does not mean anything.
"This is not the first time that Mayor Duterte was not able to welcome President Arroyo during her visit here in the city, hence the incident should not be imputed with malice," the confidante said.
Last Sunday, Mayor Duterte admitted that he had some misgivings with "fascistic moves" of the Arroyo administration in light of the controversy surrounding the ZTE broadband deal.
The mayor said he particularly loathed when a surveillance camera was installed outside the La Salle University where ZTE witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. is currently staying.
"It's a stupid move," he said.
The mayor revealed that President Arroyo called him up after learning of the mayor's misgivings. Duterte said he advised Arroyo to rein in her men from ever doing grave mistakes again.
Just last month, Mayor Duterte was also not around to welcome the President when she flew in on her way to Tagum City. At that time, the elder Duterte was abroad.
He has earlier declared that President Arroyo is still his President, but added that like any other Filipino, he wants to know the truth about the ZTE-NBN (national broadband network) deal.
