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Monday, December 04, 2006
Mayor lashes at councilor over 'insinuations'
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte advised City Councilor Nenen Orcullo to "use her brain" before making any insinuations that the coming election has something to do with his decision to allow aerial spraying for a few more years.
In his television weekly television program Sunday, Duterte said his decision not to ban aerial spraying immediately was a result of their investigation and consultation and was not in anticipation of the coming 2007 elections as what Orcullo was reportedly insinuating.
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"Use your brain. We cannot attack right away. Before we decide to ban aerial spraying, we have to have sufficient reason. Because you do not deprive a person or entity without due process," Duterte lectured.
"Don't blame politics here because whether there is the issue of aerial spraying or not, I will still win in the election here in Davao. And the banana plantations have not given me anything ever since, not even a bunch of bananas," he added.
The mayor said he agrees with Orcullo's statement carried by a news report in another local daily that chemicals, in any form, are toxic to humans and that they should be banned in the near future.
That is why, Duterte said, they are recommending to the City Council the gradual phase-out of the use of aerial spray in banana plantations in Davao City.
He said it is now up to the City Council to decide how many years it will give banana plantations to ease out aerial spraying in their operation.
Duterte also denied pressuring the City Council to act on their recommendation, saying he is willing to resign from office if one councilor would come out and say in public that he was pressured by the mayor to pass any legislation for their own vested interests.
The mayor admitted having heard that some councilors were reportedly given money for their effort to block the banning of aerial spraying, but said he never received anything.
In a text message to Sun.Star, Orcullo denied having insinuated that Duterte's decision to allow aerial spraying is due to politics.
"I am really sad about it. I have high respect for Mayor Rody and we have been allies ever since. I owe him a lot, thus I can never do anything to destroy his name," Orcullo said.
"I have my official statement with dxAB, Sonshine radio, Radyo Rapido and GMA. We can have them replayed," Orcullo said.
In a telephone call to Sun.Star Davao's editor, Orcullo denied being interviewed by the reporter who "quoted" her.
"I will stake my and my staff's lives, I did not talk with that reporter," she said. "I didn't even see her shadow that day." (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (December 4, 2006 issue)
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