DAVAO CITY - Having experience in an unwanted limelight, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio advised over 3,000 members of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) to stay cool.
“Ang natutunan ko po is always keep your cool, huwag po mag-init ang ulo. Very important lesson that I learned,” Duterte-Carpio said in her welcome remarks during the PCL dinner held at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang Premier on Tuesday.
Her statement earned a round of laughter from the audience. Duterte-Carpio became nationally and even internationally known when she attacked and punched several times a court sheriff.
On July 1, 2011 Duterte-Carpio attacked and punched Abe Andres, court sheriff of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 following the enforcement of a demolition order.
Andres ordered the demolition of shanties in Barangay Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Suliman, Agdao district despite a plea from Duterte-Carpio to wait for two-hours because she needs to be there before the demolition.
Duterte-Carpio requested the two-hour grace period from Andres because she was still attending the needs of flood victims at the time the demolition was set for enforcement.
However, Andres did not heed Duterte-Carpio's request and instead ordered the immediate demolition resulting in a riot.
A policeman was injured during the riot and it got the ire of Duterte-Carpio when she arrived in the area that resulted in the punching incident.
She earned both praises and criticisms for her action. The mayor also wished the council members from all the regions in the Philippines good luck for the May 2013 elections since most of them will be seeking reelection while others are aspiring for higher offices.
“Kasi mainit ang election sa Pilipinas, alam po natin yun. Kung hindi issue-based, personalan-based ang mga election natin (We know that elections in the Philippines is hotly-contested. It is rarely issue-based, but attacks on one’s personal life),” she said.
Thus, it is expected that there will be cases filed on the flimsiest of excuses.
“So keep your cool and good luck and always take the high road. Ibig sabihin, pag madumi na yong kalaban ninyo, huwag kayong sumabay sa kanya (If your rival is playing dirty, don’t do as he’s doing),” she said, before adding, “Maghanap kayo ng ibang tao, utusan ninyo. Huwag kayo. ‘Di ba (Look for someone else to do the dirty job for you, right)?”
Duterte-Carpio has been a public servant for six years in Davao City. She was vice mayor from 2007 to 2010 and mayor from 2010 to 2013. She is not seeking reelection nor running for any position in this year’s poll.(Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)