TIME LIMIT. Presidential son and Vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte says the offer of peace to the New People’s Army stays only for as long as his father, Rodrigo is president. The younger Duterte made the comments on Tuesday, during the city council’s regular session at the Sangguniang Panlungson in Davao City. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — “We in government are mandated to protect the people. We have all the resources. Ang iro maipit, mamaak na huna hunaa” (Cornered dogs bite back, think of that).
This was the message of Vice Mayor and Presidential Son Paolo “Pulong” Duterte to the New People’s Army on Tuesday. Pulong was reacting to the NPA raid on Saturday, which burned two Lapanday Foods Corporation-owned box and plastic plants in Barangay Mandug.
In Baranggay Bunawan, a company sized NPA unit raided the still Lorenzo-owned Macondray Plastic Plant, seizing two shotguns and two pistols from its security guards. Meanwhile, another unit raided the LFC’s ranch in Baranggay Pangyan Calinan. The NPA seized several firearms and burned factory equipment.
In his speech, Pulong highlighted the case of Larry Buenafe, the fish vendor who is now in a coma after he was hit by the NPA’s explosive device.
“On the morning of April 29, Larry was on his normal routine selling fish to Buhangin area on board his motorcycle when an improvised explosive device hit him while traversing his usual route. Now, Larry is fighting for his life in the hospital,” he said.
The Vice Mayor insisted that the current administration, with his father Rodrigo at the helm, is the best chance that the NPAs have for peace.
Pulong however, said that the offer of peace will not be indefinite, as the older Duterte’s presidency will only last for six years. Pulong also expressed support for any move that his sister and City Mayor Sara Duterte may do in response to the NPA’s attack.
“Ang konseho suportado ang bisan unsa mang lakang ni Mayor Inday Sara Duterte aron nga batukan ang NPA ug maundang na ang mga pagpanghasi niini sa katawhan, pagpangilkil, ug uban pang terorismong aktibidad.”
(The council supports every move of Mayor Inday Sara Duterte with regards to the NPA, and to stop all harassment, extortion, and other terrorist activities), Pulong said.
Sara had earlier condemned the NPA as a “terrorist organization” and took the attack to the Lorenzo-owned establishments as a “personal insult.”
“The so-called punitive action against the company was nothing but an action against peace, economic stability, and the security in Davao City. We now have 130 employees without work and Larry still in a coma. And yet the Lorenzos will still have money that you and I can only dream about in this lifetime. It did not even make a dent in their bank accounts,” the mayor said.
‘Punitive action’
In a statement, NPA spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez said the Saturday raid serves as “revolutionary justice for landless tillers and exploited workers of its banana plantations and manufacturing plants in the region.”
“Lapanday engaged in wanton environmental plunder as communities around its plantations complain of poisoning through the company’s unrestrained use of aerial spray and other harmful chemicals,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez also alleged that the LFC’s ranch in Calinan “coddled criminal elements and counter-revolutionary fanatics who are employed by the despotic Lorenzo clan to protect its anti-people business interests.”
“This was the very same ranch where retired M/Sgt. Jose Manero, chief of security for Lapanday, was arrested by NPA leader Ka Parago in May 11, 2008. As the NPA’s Prisoner of War, Manero divulged the company’s numerous violations on human rights, including the killing of several banana plantation workers, in its bid to ensure huge profit and expansion of its operations,” he said.
The LFC recently hit headlines after being embroiled in a series of legal disputes with the Department of Agrarian Reform concerning a land dispute with the agrarian reform beneficiaries under the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, Incorporated.
Read related story: Lapanday says DAR has ‘no authority’ to issue Writ of Installation
Despite a writ of installation issued by Dar Secretary Rafael Mariano, the Marbai farmers failed to reclaim their lands after the Regional Trial Court 14 ruled that DAR “has no business to interfere in the instant case” and said DAR’s appearance is “obviously late and beyond the period prescribed by the rules.” (davaotoday.com)
