Monday, May 19, 2008 Mayor notes "changing equations" in city's peace and order By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE peace and order situation in Davao City is changing because of a stepped up offensive of the New People's Army (NPA), who used to limit their movements at the periphery areas of the city, City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said.
In his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday, Duterte said the recent killing of businessman Vicente Ferrazini, the abduction of retired M/Sgt. Jose Manero and the warning of the Manero brothers to retaliate, and lastly the death of militant leader Celso Pojas tends to indicate a different level of insurgency and counter-insurgency activities.
The mayor said he has "run out of cards" on how to solve the problem, thus he is leaving it all up to the police and military authorities.
"Actually, wala man ta mabuhat dinha (we cannot do anything about that). We cannot bar anybody from entering the city. I cannot stop people from pursuing somebody. That's a police and military matter. I leave it to them," Duterte said.
"I have run out of cards. I have to get a new deck para makadiskarte ko (so that I can play again). As of now, wala ko (I don't have)," he added.
Duterte said it would be best for the people to be prepared for any eventualities. The mayor assured the innocent Dabawenyos though that they will be protected.
"I'll just take care of the innocent civilians and I'll just continue with my campaign against criminality," he said.
