Davao Jesuit supports Duterte-Carpio

As the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) begins investigating Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio for a court sheriff last Friday, a prominent Jesuit based in the city expressed his support for the mayor’s actions. “When anger is provoked by wrong, anger is not only justified, it is a virtue," said newly-installed Ateneo de Davao University president Joel Tabora, S.J. in a blog posted Sunday. “Anger is appropriate when provoked by wrong. The sheriff was simply wrong," he earlier posted on his Facebook profile. He added that the demolition in Agao was set at the “worst conceivable time… for the people of Davao" because of the flash floods that hit the city following heavy rains last Tuesday. Friday last week, Duterte-Carpio attacked Davao City Court Sheriff Abe Andres for enforcing a demolition order in the city despite her request to postpone it for two hours because she was attending to relief operations for those hit by floods.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV While it “would have been nicer" if the mayor did not attack Andres, Duterte-Carpio’s actions were correct because they were done “in defense of the people," Tabora said. The former Ateneo de Naga University president also said that “human rationality and compassion alone should have prevented [Andres] from carrying out his writ of demolition at that time." Duterte-Carpio, who is the daughter of former Davao City Mayor and now Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, has already told media that she did not regret her actions. She added that she only lost her temper because Andres did not follow her orders. She said that she requested to delay the demolition because she wanted to be present at the demolition in order to prevent violence. Tabora pointed out that a section in the RA 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 requires local government officials to be present during evictions and demolitions. On Monday, he posted the law on his Facebook profile. “Sure there was a court order, and court orders have to be implemented, but not in a manner that disrespects the human situation of the people whose homes are to be demolished and not in disregard of the local government," Tabora said. In an interview with GMA News on Friday, Andres said that he suffered contusions around his eye and had to seek medical attention. He also said that he was only enforcing an order from the court to demolish the houses in the city. Andres, however, does not have plans of filing assault charges against the mayor. The DILG said on Friday that Duterte-Carpio could be removed from her post if proven that she abused her powers when she attacked Andres. Duterte-Carpio has since taken a leave of absence from July 4 to 11 while the DILG investigates the incident.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The mayor, however, said she will continue to take part in relief and rehabilitation operations in the city. According to a report Friday on GMA News’ “24 Oras," certain parts of Davao City were flooded again after two hours of rain on Sunday. — With Bea Cupin/VS, GMA News