Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, in a privilege speech during Tuesday’s session, said that the accusation of CHR Chair Eta Rosales was uncalled for.
By CHERYLL D. FIEL
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY – – Legislators defended Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and members of the Davao police who are under fire from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the wake of last week’s police operations that killed three suspects.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, in a privilege speech during Tuesday’s session, said that the accusation of CHR Chair Eta Rosales was uncalled for.
He said, “(W)e should give the police the benefit of the doubt and the presumption of regularity in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities and due process” before passing a judgment, pointing out further that the police operatives were put in a damn-if-you-do-damn-if you don’t kind of situation.
Rosales was reported to have reacted after viewing a video footage showing images that suggest one of the kidnappers was finished off by operatives. The same video shows a man in civilian clothes surreptitiously placing an object inside the suspects’ car.
Dayanghirang claimed the video footage could be “susceptible to manipulation.”
He also sponsored a resolution commending the Davao PNP for its action.
Councilor Edgardo Ibuyan sponsored a similar resolution commending the police for “efficiency and bravery in neutralizing the kidnap-for-ransom group.”
“I am certain that the incident will have a chilling effect on criminals,” he said in a privilege speech, adding that the incident is “a significant milestone in the minds and hearts of citizens, not only in Davao, but all over the country.”
Meanwhile, the Davao City Police claimed it was the kidnappers who fired the first shots and that they acted only out of necessity to contain public harm.
Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte is all by the side of the Davao Police declaring he would go to jail with them if need be. He stressed that the police action was legitimate and moral.
He surmised that had the victim died, the CHR would still question the police for bungling the rescue operation and accuse them of being inefficient and incompetent.
And had any of the police died, their deaths, he added, would just be “ironically, heartlessly dismissed as part of the job.”
“That is indeed very unfortunate. Kalooy sa pulis, bisag asa ibutang, way dag-anan,”Dayanghirang said.
He said his position is in defense of the city’s police, which is touted to be the finest in the country, and in support of the mayor who declared that Davao City is a dangerous place for criminals.
“Davao City PNP is one of the finest PNP in the country, and their efforts should not be soiled by mere conjecture,” he said.
As for the Mayor, he said, the city, with its huge population of 1.4 million needs a strong leader like him.
Dayanghirang said Davaoeños are lucky to have a leader like Duterte who “has the guts” to keep the city’s peace and order in such a way that is “never intimidated by any lawless elements neither cowed by any intervention.”
He cited for instance the issue of carnapping that was reported in the city last year whose alleged mastermind was “neutralized” by the tough stance of then Vice Mayor Duterte.
“Do you think that carnapping would be stopped? Would Baktin (the alleged leader of the carnapping group) have not left Davao city were it not for the mayor and the law enforcers?” he addressed the Council.
He said the city’s reputation of being “most liveable” is credited to the “courageous and uncompromising stance of mayor Duterte and the PNP” against criminality.
Dayanghirang, along with Ibuyan are Duterte’s partymates in Hugpong, a homegrown political party formed by the city mayor for more than a decade now.
For the longest time, there is no election in Davao where bets for Council seats would not seek the endorsement of Duterte to boost their winning chances.
The City’s legislative arm is dominated by Hugpong with only two seats won by non-members.
The Vice-Mayor, the presiding officer of the City Council is the son of Duterte, Paolo.(Cheryll D. Fiel/davaotoday.com)
Commission on Human Rights, davao city, davao city police, duterte, Etta Rosales, Human Rights, Kidnap for Ransom Group
