|
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Davao mayor flies to Manila to back Arroyo
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a staunch supporter of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, flew to Manila Saturday to show his support to the beleaguered President as he advised Dabawenyos not to get involved in the political brouhaha in Manila.
Duterte's aide, Bong Go, confirmed Duterte's trip to Manila. He did not confirm though if President Arroyo personally requested Duterte to come over or it was the mayor's own volition.
Duterte said his visit to Malacañang is to assess at close range what is happening inside the Palace.
The mayor admitted earlier that the resignation of the Cabinet secretaries is bad for the country, however he respected their opinion.
"The impact is quite heavy. It could throw this country into bedlam. It will really create ripples to other sectors. Masama dahil galing mismo sa Cabinet ang nag-resign. But I don't question their motivation," Duterte said.
Former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Education Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Trade Secretary Juan Santos, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rene Villa, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, and peace process adviser Teresita Deles tendered their irrevocable resignation and at the same time called for President Arroyo's resignation.
Duterte said he would stick it out to the end with Arroyo amid the probe conducted by the House of Representatives on the wiretapped conversations between her and former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, which the opposition believe is an evidence that indeed Arroyo rigged the election results in 2004.
"Arroyo does not only have my support but I also respect her move. It was an admirable act because it took her a lot of humility and guts to admit her mistake. The opposition could now proceed with the legal process such as an impeachment case," he said.
He added that that Arroyo's admission did not erase the fact that the wiretapped conversations were illegally acquired evidence that could not stand in court.
The mayor advised the public, especially the Dabawenyos, to remain with the Constitution.
He will allow rallies against President Arroyo in the city for as long as these will be done peacefully.
Duterte advised the Dabawenyos to follow the rule of law. "Once you start to make trouble, you will have to deal with the police and the military. Sinabi ko na in several fora, kamong mga taga-Davao huwag kayong sumali sa gulo doon sa Manila," Duterte said.
He reiterated his position against any extra-Constitutional way of unseating the president. He said the proposed Mindanao Republic would indeed evolve if President Arroyo will be ousted unconstitutionally.
Meanwhile, Mindanao leaders will meet on Tuesday to push the creation of a "Mindanao Republic."
Expected to attend the meeting are Duterte, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano and Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema together with governors Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, Daisy Avance-Fuentes of South Cotabato, Emmanuel Piñol of North Cotabato and Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani.
Emano said he had recently talked Duterte regarding the creation of a Mindanao Republic.
Romualdo in a separate interview said Mindanao provincial governors and mayors would be attending this meeting.
"And we mean business this time! Pait kaayo sa atoa diri sa Mindanao nga sige nalang ang Manila magbuot (It is very difficult for us here in Mindanao to be always dictated by Manila)," he said.
Romualdo said the Mindanao Republic is not only in case Arroyo should need a refuge but also in the event there is a constitutional change.
"At least, we here in Mindanao have already ironed out what we want," he said.
Piñol on the other hand said for those in the opposition who thinks the President's apology was not enough should bring the case to the proper forum.
"I continue to support the President. It takes a considerable amount of courage for a leader to admit a mistake. But such a mistake should be dealt with through prescribed procedures," Dominguez said
Governor Avance-Fuentes said the nation should look deeply into the consequence of the attempts to unseat Arroyo.
"We cannot afford another turmoil," she said adding she is throwing her support for Arroyo to help her weather the political crisis buffeting the President. (Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao and Lizanilla Amarga of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 10, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Business groups, Cebu mayors ask Arroyo to hang on