PNP to probe Duterte's policemen-bodyguards

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to investigate the policemen who served as bodyguards of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte at the time she attacked a court sheriff during a demolition in the city last week. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said they would be looking into reports that the policemen-bodyguards could also be held liable for the attack, after video footage showed that men accompanying Duterte were restraining sheriff Abe Andres after she was punched four times by the mayor. The footage also showed one of the bodyguards even dragging Andres back to Duterte as she pulled the sheriffs hair. "Mag-iimbestiga muna ang Davao police para ma-determine kung may participation iyong security detail," Cruz told GMA News Online. The police spokesman identified Duterte's two police bodyguards as PO2 Dennis Roderick Rodriguez Cabudti and PO2 Roy Alquizar Ociones. Before the attack, Duterte said she had wanted to personally oversee a demolition in Agdao district to prevent any violence from erupting. But she was then busy with relief operations for flood victims and requested Andres to push back the demolition by two hours. The demolition, however, pushed through as scheduled, which resulted in a clash between policemen and villagers. A policeman and several villagers were wounded. Learning about the violence that happened while she was away, Duterte rushed to the site and — visibly frustrated over the sheriff's actions — punched him four times in the face and the head. Public opinion was mixed regarding to incident, with some lauding the mayor for standing up for the rights of the poor villagers and others condemning the attack which they considered as unbecoming of a public official. Duterte has already filed a leave of absence. The post has since been taken over by Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, her father and a former Davao City mayor himself. The elder Duterte said he was proud of what his daughter did and advised her not to apologize to Andres. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News