COUNCILOR Bonz Andrei Militar appealed for unity among Davaoeños following the alleged suspension of Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Vice Mayor Atty. J. Melchor Quitain.
In a privilege speech during Tuesday’s regular session, Militar said the rumored suspensions “whether grounded in truth or not, have caused unease and speculation among our citizens.”
“It is important that we, as responsible citizens, refrain from jumping to conclusions based on unverified information. In light of these rumors, if proven to be true or not, I call upon each and everyone to stand for unity and transparency,” Militar said.
He also asked the City Council to “stand for a just society where rule of law prevails” and remain committed to ensuring an orderly and progressive city.
“With this, we stand with Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste Duterte in his continuing call for transparency, accountability, peace, and security for Davao City and for the entire country,” he added.
Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo also expressed his support and vowed to continue to rally behind the Dutertes.
“We will continue to support or rally behind our city mayor who is doing well in his duty. Kung unsa ang Davao karon, we owe it to the Dutertes, I think kita pong Dabawenyo, naa tay utang kabubut-on nga atong tan awon sad kung unsa ang Davao karon ug magpasalamat pud ta sa ilang liderato,” Ocampo said.
Quitain told reporters after the session that they received no official communication about a looming suspension.
Atty. Harry Roque, the former spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte, bared the alleged plan of the Marcos Administration to suspend Baste and the vice mayor during his live broadcast on Thursday, June 6.
“Napag-alaman namin na sususpendihin daw po ang ating Mayor Baste Duterte, hindi po ito haka-haka, ito po ay katotohanan, susupindinhin daw po at i-issue ang suspension order matapos ang araw na ito, kung saan nagtungo sa Davao si PBBM,” Roque said.
Roque added the grounds for the suspension involved the active participation of the mayor in the Hakbang ng Maisug rallies, which was the cause of the suspension of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib.
Duterte on the other hand, Meanwhile, the Davao City chief executive downplayed rumors of his removal during a Barangay Serbisyo Publiko event on Saturday, June 8, at Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School.
“While I’m here now because I don’t know, there are rumors that I’ll be removed, I’ll be suspended. For me, you just keep going, whatever happens, even I’ll disappear since the city is peaceful, so far. But it’s just gossip that we have to wait and it will come. Then you just keep going,” Duterte said.
