The punching Mayor

I understand why Sara Duterte punched Abe Andres, the Davao City Sheriff. It all boils down to politics. We all know that Mayors are the number one reason why we have squatters. Yes, they’re squatters and to hell with the euphemisms calling them informal settlers instead. They cuddle those squatters because they can count on their votes during the election season. They’re also the reason why LGUs could not address the issue of professional squatting.

I’m not an expert on laws but what I know is that squatting is illegal and against the law. In fact, it was only during the Ramos Administration that it was decriminalized. The good Sheriff, an officer in the court, is just performing his duties and the court order. It is not his personal wish to get rid of the squatters. He’s just following the court order. If the Sheriff will not implement the court order, he’ll be in trouble and could be charged administratively.

Sara Duterte’s attitude towards people in the judiciary is a microcosm of what is happening in the national scene. President Abnoy has been bullying and tarnishing the image of the higher magistrate whom he even called the Arroyo court. He’s against the SC primarily because they’re all appointed by President GMA. The composition is actually 14/1 and 14 of those are Arroyo appointees. It is not PGMAs fault that she gets to appoint the majority of the SC Members. It is not her fault that she ended up holding the presidency for 9 years. If President Abnoy will look closely, it’s his Mother’s (Tita Cory) constitution that’s at fault. The constitution fails to look into the possibility that a Vice President may rise to presidency and then wins a new term as president.

So going back to the fist fighting incident, Duterte may have won the admiration of the leftist, people who claims to be protector of Human Rights but she may end up regretting what she did. She could be disbarred and stripped of the rights to practice law. She could also face administrative cases and the list could go on. The worst thing that could possibly happen to her is losing the mayoralty seat.

As a local leader, a mayor should set an example. She should not only be the protector of her people but the law as well. That’s why we have laws in the first place, so that there will be order and not chaos in our society. As a lawyer, she should know better. It’s alright to protect your people but she should have weighed the consequences of her actions.

If President Abnoy is true to his daang matuwid ek-ek, he should punish Sara Duterte, a known ally of the Aquinos. However, considering how President Abnoy protects his KKK, punishing Duterte remains to be seen!