Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte stands for order, not violence, his running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has said.
Cayetano defended Duterte from London-based Amnesty International, which raised red flags about the alleged human rights record of the mayor. The nongovernment organization also expressed alarm at the public’s fascination with Duterte’s notoriety for using trigger-happy solutions to crime.
READ: Amnesty Int’l raises red flags on Duterte
But Cayetano said: “Human rights is about protecting life and liberty. It is about respect, justice, and equity.”
“This is the bedrock upon which Davao City stands. It is a city where peace, rule of law, and economic prosperity exist, it gave birth to the first progressive gender code to protect the rights of women and children, it offers a safe haven, a humane and equitable environment that respects the diversity of Christians, Muslims, and indigenous people.”
“No matter how long they’ve lived there or how fleeting their visit was, Davaoeños and visitors alike share a very safe and comfortable time in the city that refreshes their idea of urban Philippines. This is why Davao is perceived by many as one of the safest cities in the world,” he said.
READ: Davao City improves to 5th in ranking of world’s safest cities
Cayetano said this is what Duterte wants to replicate in the whole country.
“Mayor Duterte symbolizes radical change. His leadership gives importance to the rights and interests of people, long-neglected by government. Most importantly, Mayor Duterte stands for order, not violence. Beyond Mayor Duterte’s tough-talk is a humane, peaceful and progressive community,” said the senator.
Cayetano then expressed hope that Amnesty International and all other international agencies and nongovernment organizations “will open their eyes to what the Filipino people found inspiring in Mayor Duterte.”
“Despite his self-confessed imperfections, Mayor Duterte’s vision and achievements command respect and engender hope among a people longing for a better Philippines,” the senator further said. IDL