No recommendations yet on Duterte punching incident - DILG

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Friday said his department has yet to finish its investigation into the punching of a court sheriff by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on July 1. "We do not have recommendations yet," Robredo told GMA News Online, reacting to reports supposedly quoting him as saying that Duterte-Carpio, who punched sheriff Abe Andres on July 1 during a demolition row in the city, might not face any sanction for the incident. Robredo said it would be unlikely for the DILG to slap the Davao City mayor with a punishment since Andres had repeatedly refused to press charges. But while Andres has not taken legal actions against Davao City's chief executive, Duterte-Carpio is still facing an indirect contempt complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman filed by the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (Scophil). A separate disbarment case has likewise been filed against the mayor, who is the daughter of former Davao City Mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. "Scophil filed a case with the Ombudsman [and] not the DILG. [The] disbarment [is] with the IBP [Integrated Bar of the Philippines]," Robredo said when asked why the DILG might not impose sanctions on Duterte despite the two complaints against her by different parties. Robredo earlier assured the public that the DILG lawyers who flew to Davao City on Monday and Thursday would be able to come up with their report and send it to President Benigno Aquino III within the week. Robredo also stressed that the DILG cannot lead efforts to file complaints against Duterte. "The DILG cannot act as the complainant and investigator at the same time," he said. [See: DILG report on Duterte assault in PNoy's hands this week] Immediately after the punching incident happened, Robredo quickly reacted and said Duterte could get suspended or could lose her post. Robredo, however, said an investigation should be made first because conclusions cannot be derived soley based on video footage of the incident, which had already gone viral and made it in international news. Both Duterte-Carpio and Andres have gone back to work after respectively going into a leave of absence. — RSJ, GMA News