Monday, November 03, 2008 Duterte: Nograles is not my friend
STATED that way, the prodding of different groups to reconcile Davao City's two major political antagonists may indeed be a useless exercise.
House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles earlier said there is no need for reconciliation with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte since they have not quarreled.
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Mayor Duterte echoed the sentiment, but added, "He is not my friend, so why should we reconcile?"
The two political players of Davao City may have not quarreled with each other directly, but neither have they seen eye to eye.
It was about the same time last year when Duterte and Nograles exchanged harsh words with each other on national television with the mayor being cut off air for cussing.
The mayor was cut short while being interviewed live on ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda" last November 13, 2007 after the mayor cussed during an interview with Anthony Taberna.
In Taberna's "Punto Por Punto" segment, Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles was interviewed first and he denied all the allegations against him hurled by Duterte during his "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" program on Sunday.
Nograles said all of the mayor's accusations could have stemmed from intrigues sowed by people who want him and Duterte to fight. "Alam mo naman sa Davao, maraming intrigero," he said.
Asked if he was not afraid of going against Duterte, Nograles said his fear has run dry that nothing is left but bravery.
At that point, Taberna spoke to Duterte on the phone and asked the city chief executive what caused the word war between him and Nograles.
Duterte said he is throwing three charges against Nograles, one of which is the farm-to-market project of the congressman in Agusan del Sur.
Duterte also denied that the city failed in its nutrition program and led to the suicide of 12-year-old Mariannet Amper in Ma-a.
Asked if there is any possibility for him and Nograles to reconcile considering that they are both supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Duterte dismissed the thought outright, saying it's about time they parted ways.
The mayor blamed Nograles's long-time ambition to become the mayor of Davao City as the root cause of all their problems.
"Kahit noong bata pa kami, sa yearbook namin noon nakalagay sa ambition niya to become mayor (Even when we were children, his ambition is really to become mayor)," Duterte said.
As Duterte was saying his piece, Nograles simply smiled while the studio audience laughed.
It was when the mayor discussed his encounter with Nograles at the Davao International Airport while waiting for the arrival of the President that he was cut off.
When Duterte repeated what he said to Nograles, Taberna immediately cut Duterte off the air, telling the mayor that they don't allow cussing in their program. (CPM/With reports from BOT)
