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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Mayor cut off after cussing on air
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was cut short while being interviewed live on ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda" after the mayor cussed anew during an interview with Anthony Taberna.
In Taberna's "Punto Por Punto" segment, Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles was first interviewed and he denied all the allegations hurled against him by Duterte during his "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" program on Sunday.
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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.
The lawmaker also questioned ABS-CBN Davao for allowing the program to air despite Duterte's offensive language.
When 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 who was 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, among them the farm-to-market project of the congressman in Agusan del Sur.
Duterte also denied that the city has failed in its nutrition program leading to the suicide of 12-year-old Mariannet Amper in Ma-a.
During his one-full hour of cussing Nograles in his television program Sunday, Duterte had invoked his right to freedom of expression, saying no regulation could prevent him from saying what he wants to express.
"Eh sa galit talaga ako sa congressman na yan eh (I'm really angry at that congressman). I am invoking my right to freedom of expression during my block-time program," Duterte said.
Asked if there is any possibility for him and Nograles to reconcile considering that they both are supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Duterte dismissed the possibility 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 nya to become mayor," Duterte revealed. (Even when we where children, his ambition is really to become mayor.)
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.
"Ipagpaumanhin nyo po pero di po naming pinapayagan ang ganyang mga salita dito sa ABS-CBN Manila. Maraming salamat po," Taberna told Duterte who simply replied: "Salamat din."
Taberna then went back to Nograles who readily criticized Duterte for his habit of saying bad words in public.
"As long as we debate in a civilized manner, okay lang. Pero gusto nya (Duterte) kasi i-terrorize ang mga tao eh. Pero ayaw ko na pa-terrorize sa kanya," Nograles said. (But he wants to terrorize people. I won't allow him to terrorize me.)
Asked what his message for Duterte would be now that the mayor has finally closed his door on reconciliation, Nograles said: "Cool ka lang partner, okay lang tayo."
In his commentary after the interview, Taberna asked the two Dabawenyo politicians not to grab the limelight from the national politicians who are always squabbling day in day out.
Dabawenyo host Alex Santos also appealed to the two leaders to stop fighting because this will not result in anything good. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (November 14, 2007 issue)
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