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Monday, April 07, 2003
Emano apologizes to bombers for Davao mayor
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano issued a public apology Saturday to those behind the bombing of the Sasa wharf in Davao City, who might have also masterminded an earlier blast at the airport, in behalf of that local government's chief executive.
Emano said during his radio peace dialogue aired throughout Mindanao that he was asking forgiveness in behalf of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for his "challenging" attitude directed at the bombers of the Davao International Aiport on March 4.
To the Cagayan de Oro mayor, Duterte's stance may have provoked the April 2 blast in the Sasa wharf.
Emano's accusation had enraged a number of Davao City residents.
"Dili lang unta hingpungtan si Mayor Duterte sa Davao sa iyang mga pamahayag... natural lang kana sa usa ka lider," he said. (I hope that you will not be mad at Mayor Duterte of Davao City for his statements...those are natural coming from a leader.)
Reacting to Emano's earlier statements, Duterte rejected claims his "tough stance" might have prompted the bombing at the city's port that killed 16 people and injured 55 others.
'Uncalled for'
Duterte said his style of governance probably does not suit Emano's taste, thus his "uncalled for" remarks.
He added he was not bragging for he has nothing to brag about but challenged the Cagayan de Oro mayor to find a terrorist with a grenade and take the grenade while Duterte said he would take its safety pin and embrace Emano.
"That's not bragging. Bragging is when somebody keeps on talking and yet doesn't do anything. The same officials who will just shiver in fear when you face them," he added.
In his apology, Emano told the bombers they know that Duterte is an honorable man who is serving his people with all his heart.
Talking about the bombers, Emano earlier advised Duterte it would no good to challenge or antagonize them.
"Istoryahon dili kay hagiton," Emano told Duterte in a radio interview last Thursday. (Talk to them. Don't challenge them.)
Outraged
Duterte's friends and many Dabawenyos were reportedly "outraged" by Emano's earlier pronouncements that their mayor shouldn't have taken a "challenging stance" because this might have provoked the second spate of bombings in their city.
Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piņol described Emano's statements "irresponsible and uncalled for."
"It's like stabbing Duterte twice on the back," Piņol said, adding if Emano doesn't have any help to extend maybe it is best that he not meddle in Davao's problems.
"He (Emano) is my friend but that's uncalled for," Piņol added.
Davao City spokesman Wendel Avisado, taking the cudgels for Duterte, said the Dabawenyos are "outraged" and "indignant" over Emano's uncalled for comments.
Avisado said there are things that should be expressed in the proper time and place, adding "he (Emano) is not the mayor of Davao City and if he cannot do what Mayor Duterte can do, then he should shut up."
Emano said Duterte committed a huge blunder when he challenged, uttered undesirable comments, and made "a dirty finger" at the March 4 bombers on television.
Network
An aide of Emano, during casual conversation, said there are some happenings in Davao City that even Duterte doesn't know about.
He told reporters over lunch at that Emano's intelligence network extends throughout Mindanao and that even Duterte cannot claim he knows everything that's going on in his city.
"There are things that go on in Davao that Duterte does not know about as Emano's intelligence network is far-reaching. He is even the one being consulted by President Arroyo on matters pertaining to Mindanao," he claimed.
But Emano's staunch supporter who requested anonymity admitted the mayor could also not claim that he knows everything that goes on in Cagayan de Oro city.
Avisado said Emano seems to be trying to put Duterte down at a time when he needs support from his fellow mayors.
"He is blabbering without knowing the real issue," he stressed.
Avisado said Duterte went to Pikit and Datu Sinsuat to talk to Hashim Salamat through the Moro leader's nephew Abraham Paglas III but was ignored.
Presumptuous
Avisado said Emano was too presumptuous when he said the bombings of the mosques were retaliatory moves and might not have been initiated by the same persons that bombed the Davao International Airport last March 4 and the Sasa wharf last Wednesday.
Emano expressed fear the bombing of three Davao Muslim mosques Thursday could trigger a religious war that would spill over to other key cities in Mindanao including Cagayan de Oro.
"He's too presumptuous. Does he know who bombed the mosques? Wala pa gani nahuman ang investigation," Avisado said, adding the government is running after the terrorists and no "amount of talk can stop any terrorist from staging an attack." (The investigation is not even over yet.)
Avisado said he hopes that Cagayan de Oro City would be spared from the same misfortune that Davao City experienced so Emano would not have to go through what Duterte had gone through.
Emano is insisting on his proposal for Duterte and the other mayors in Mindanao to hold a dialogue with the rebels in the island.
"If the opportunity allows it, Duterte and the mayors should talk with the rebels face to face," he said.
Warning
Earlier, Emano said the reports that three bombs without blasting caps were found last month should have been a warning to Duterte.
Emano's statements were heard over Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, Butuan, Cotabato, Korondal, Iligan, Bukidnon, Pagadian, Surigao and Camiguin, to mention a few.
Representatives of the two biggest rebel groups in Mindanao, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) military affairs deputy officer Al Hadj Murad, New People's Army (NPA) spokesman Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, and Ka Allan Juanito, reputed to be the leader of Northern Mindanao NPA front committees, also participated in the radio show.
The rebels talked with PNP regional directors Roberto Olario of the Caraga region and Manuel Raval of Region 10 and 4th Infantry Division commanding general Maj. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing of the military.
Davao sectoral leader Dr. Robinson Montalba and Kabacan (Cotabato) Mayor Luzviminda Tan also joined in Saturday's Mindanao-wide radio peace discussion. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sun.Star Davao
(April 7, 2003 issue)
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