Duterte should have been arrested for assault, Cebu court sheriffs say

CEBU CITY—The Sheriff Confederation of the Philippines Cebu City Chapter on Tuesday condemned the punching incident in Davao City involving Mayor Sara Duterte and a court sheriff, saying what the mayor did was definitely a criminal act.

“We have to condemn her actions. The use of violence was excessive. As the mother of the city, she should be a role model,” Jessie Belarmino, president of the SCP Cebu City, said in an interview over station dyLA.

According to Belarmino, nobody would respect the sheriffs when they implement the demolition orders in the future if government officials would be allowed to intervene as what Duterte did.

Belarmino said that when Duterte assaulted sheriff Abe Andres, it was a “criminal act.”

“So, she (Mayor Duterte) can be criminally liable. Maybe the DILG should look into it and ask the police to explain why they did not stop the mayor, or even arrest her,” Belarmino said in Cebuano.

In implementing a demolition order, anyone who blocks the implementation could be arrested, he pointed out.

Belarmino also noted that there were policemen who were present during the incident, but did nothing when Duterte attacked sheriff Abe Andres.

Though he and fellow sheriffs in Cebu have not experienced intervention from local officials when they implemented demolition orders, Belarmino admitted feeling apprehensive while watching the Duterte assault, noting  that this could happen anywhere.

He said in the past, they only experienced resistance from affected persons in the demolition.

However, Belarmino acknowledged that any question raised by local government officials over a demolition could be discussed amicably.

He added that the sheriff might grant a delay in the demolition order if there was enough time to implement it later in the day.

If the sheriff decides to implement the order, he should not be faulted as he was merely complying with a ministerial job, Belarmino said.

According to Belarmino, they respected Andres’ decision not to file charges against the mayor but said should he decide to pursue the case, their confederation would support him.