- Mayor defiant after receiving letter from DILG about ‘vulgar’ officials
MAYOR Sebastian Duterte on Thursday afternoon revealed receiving a letter from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) calling out the “vulgar and disturbing” behavior and words of local officials.
Duterte delivered a speech during the send-off ceremony of 8,415 security forces for the 87th Araw ng Dabaw held at the Davao City Police Office headquarters on Thursday, Feb. 29. In his address, he mentioned that he got the letter when he attended the Cebu prayer rally.
“It seems that there are officials in Davao who are vulgar. That’s right. I don’t dispute this if it wasn’t addressed to me. If mine is disturbing, there are many things that are disturbing if you say it in the context of Philippine politics,” the mayor said.
He said his fighting words were a reaction to the dirty politics where his family seemed to be the target. “Ang pilipino ang perception sa mga tao ang tan aw sa pulitika kung mosulod ka ug politika aron magpadatu ka. Kana dili ba diay na disturbing (For Filipinos, their usual perception for someone entering politics is to enrich themselves. Isn’t that disturbing)?” he added.
He admitted that he is not as politically savvy as his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.
However, it is not in his nature to simply remain silent if he sees something wrong.
“Kung makakita ko ug sayop mo istorya mangyud ko mao jud akong batasan. Pusila ko Patya ko (If I see something wrong, I will always speak up. That’s always my character. You can shoot me or kill me),” Duterte said.
“Pero nahimo man kong mayor, buhaton nako ang unsa gyud sakto. Pero sayop gani sayop gyud na. I cannot pretend that nothing is wrong sa situation nato diri sa Pilipinas tawagon ko ug bastos ko bastos man gyud ko (I became a mayor, so I will do what is right. But a mistake will always be a mistake. I cannot pretend that nothing is wrong in our country, you can call me boorish if you like),” he added.
On Jan. 28, Mayor Baste challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to do his job and the demands of his position or step down from his post during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum in Grand Men Seng Hotel, a prelude to the prayer rally.
