Thursday, August 07, 2008 Duterted faced rebels in kangaroo court
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday evening that he faced the New Peoples Army's (NPA) kangaroo court recently for accusations that he is behind the summary execution of minors in the city.
In Reverend Apollo C. Quiboloy's television program "Give us this Day," Duterte said he personally attended the kangaroo court hearing and gave his side on the accusations against him.
"I told the NPA that indeed Davao City remains to be a dangerous place for criminals. I was asked by the rebels as to what I meant, I told them that's what it is, the city is dangerous for criminals. And if I am going to talk about it, I might be placing myself in a dangerous situation also," Duterte said.
The mayor said his "good relationship" with the rebels date back when he was still a city prosecutor.
He warned though that his relationship with the rebel group might just turn sour if the NPA continue with their atrocities in Davao City.
He appealed to the rebels to refrain from operating in Davao City as it endangers the economy of the city and ultimately the livelihood of every Dabawenyo.
Duterte said if he could not convince the rebels to stop staging attacks in Davao, then he might as well resign from his post just as he resigned from being chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC).
The mayor said he recently met with five top rebel leaders and have conveyed to them this same message. (BOT)
