CITY MAYOR. Davao City Mayor and Presidential daughter belies rumors that she will resign as mayor of the city. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — After her leave of 22 days from the office, City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said she will be reporting for duty on Saturday, July 23 dismissing rumors of her plan to resign as city mayor.
In an interview with reporters here, Duterte said the rumors are not true and that she decided not to answer the allegations.
“There was no truth to it. Gipasagdan lang nako sila kay nalingaw ra man pud kog paminaw sa mga chismis (I just let them be and enjoyed listening to them making rumors),” she said.
“It was amusing while it lasted,” she said. Duterte’s leave ends Friday, July 22.
Duterte said her leave was due to personal reasons.
“I have to do personal things for my other obligations and I don’t want to do it while I am in office. So I have to take a leave of absence,” Duterte said. She said those obligations were upon her even before she ran for city mayor.
Duterte said as a city mayor they are expected to be available “24-7” adding that she will be on duty even on a Saturday.
Duterte’s elder brother and Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte announced on July 1 that she will go on leave. The Vice Mayor has earlier clarified that his sister’s leave is “not connected to Malacañang”.
Mayor Duterte also said that her priority programs in the city will include infrastructure, poverty alleviation, agriculture, health, peace and order, sustainable solid waste management, and housing.
She also added that she will be leaving for Manila on Monday, July 25 to attend the first State of the Nation Address of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte. (davaotoday.com)
