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Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Mayor offers Arroyo refuge in Davao City
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Beleaguered President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can always fly here in Davao City and seek refuge amid all the attacks being leveled at her by her political opponents in Metro Manila, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said.
Duterte said Davao City would be more than willing to accommodate President Arroyo if ever an uprising again happens in Metro Manila.
He said the city could be Arroyo's "comfort zone" anytime.
Duterte reiterated his earlier warning of a separate Mindanao republic if politicians from imperial Manila successfully oust Arroyo from Malacañang.
"If she's removed forcibly, then that would be illegal because that's rebellion. No one could also stop us from declaring a separate revolutionary government here in Mindanao," Duterte said.
Legal services
The mayor said he has offered his services as a legal adviser to President Arroyo following the coming out of tapes of her alleged conversation with a former election official to rig the 2004 elections.
His advise to the President: "Shut up."
In an interview Monday, Duterte said he met with Arroyo in Malacañang over the weekend and he offered to her his services as her legal adviser.
"So the president then asked me what advise I could give to her, I told her not to talk at all. Let them (accusers) prove their case but do not allow them to destroy you by your own words. So, Madame President it would be better for you to shut up," Duterte narrated.
Garcillano's flight
On the reported flight of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, Duterte said the Comelec official's hasty travel abroad, if true, does not necessarily mean admission of guilt.
He said no charges were ever filed against Garcillano over the alleged election fraud thus the Comelec official is free to go wherever he wants to go without necessarily indicating guilt on his part.
"Hindi ko maintindihan minsan itong mga tao (I don't understand some people). Ang iba nagsasabi na (Others say) silence means guilty yung tao. Whereas the constitution clearly provides the right to remain silent," Duterte said.
This is not the first time the city has prepared for the eventuality that a President would be forcibly ousted by not so popular elements.
During the height of coup plots against erstwhile president Corazon C. Aquino, close allies have likewise plotted Aquino's escape route and eventual refuge in the city. This did not materialize since the coup plotters were not successful. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(June 21, 2005 issue)
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