BY MIDNIGHT of June 20, 2025, the new Davao City Council will assume office. By this time, we are certain that the councilor-winner are preparing their inaugural speeches. The local lawmakers are already crafting how to communicate their promises to their constituents; the ordinances they intend to author in the next three years.
But we are wondering whether one or two or even three of them will ever strongly propose for another serious inventory of existing ordinances, do away with those that are redundant, look into those that are duplicating with another, and possibly let those still relevant come back to life and have the same implemented.
Yes, it’s been years since we heard of talks at the local legislative body to search the archives of ordinances passed by the City Council, because it now appears that the depository of the City Council for hard copies of ordinances appears so congested already. Moreover, a number of the ordinances or local legislations are already forgotten.
It is about time that the Council should consider creating a body composed of selected administrative employees and some councilors. The group should be tasked to retrieve the hard copies of ordinances passed and approved within a specific time frame. The body should thoroughly study each and set aside those that are outdated, redundant, or with a similar purpose so that corresponding recommendations can be made relative to the status of these ordinances.
We believe such action is imperative at this point in time. Already, there are certain actuations of city residents, businesses, and/or corporations in Davao City that are contrary to the norms of society. But with the authorities not knowing which local laws have jurisdiction over the infraction, these violations usually escaped unpunished.
So why should the City Council be hesitant to undertake this “house-cleaning” process and relieve the Council’s docket with those ordinances that are not only ageing but also getting irrelevant to the city’s push for development?
Let us be honest. At this point in time of the local government of Davao City’s operation, what is important in terms of accomplishment of a Davao City Council member is not the number of ordinances authored or co-sponsored and approved, but the quality and inclusivity in the implementation of the local legislation.
*****************************
Carried in this paper in its issue yesterday was the report on the dismissal of the case filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte against the policemen who raided the compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church (KOJC) along C.P. Garcia Diversion Highway in Panacan The raid which lasted for several days was conducted last September of 2024.
The case was earlier filed with the City Prosecutor’s Office but was dismissed. It was elevated to the Department of Justice by the complainant, former President, and a known close friend of the KOJC leader. Again, it was dismissed.
With FPRRD now detained in The Hague, Netherlands, on charges of committing crimes against humanity, will somebody pick up the tab for the detained former leader and move for a reconsideration of the DoJ ruling?
Maybe we will hear from the lawyer of the also detained KOJC leader, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, Atty. Israelito Toreon. Or maybe the designated caretaker of the Quiboloy church will pursue the case since it was the compound of the KOJC that was literally “invaded” by uniformed policemen while conducting the raid.
******************************
Newly reelected senator Bato dela Rosa is mulling a Senate investigation into what he suspects is the employment of “pressure” on retired police officials by visiting investigators from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
For what is this inquiry or investigation for? In aid of legislation, or in aid of “redemption?” Certainly, the Davaoeño senator knows that if the probe is for the crafting of a law that will bar ICC investigators from looking into crimes committed during the incumbency of the former President, starting from his remaining days as Davao City Mayor and up to the fourth year of his presidency, it is too late already. And unfortunately for the Senator, as the former police director in Davao City and later as PNP Director General during the first two years of the Duterte Presidency, he too, is implicated in the crime charged to the former chief executive.
Indeed, this inquiry is worth watching by every Filipino, especially the Davaoenos. This may further make or break the tough-talking Senator from Davao del Sur.
“Let us to see,” according to the late Davao Senator Landring Almendras.
