Sheriffs rally, urge Ombudsman to suspend Duterte

MANILA, Philippines—The Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (SCOPHIL) asked the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for attacking a court sheriff amid tensions during a demolition last July 1.

SCOPHIL already filed a case against Duterte for direct assault and grave misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman last month. Now, they filed a motion asking for her suspension.

The group also filed a separate case for grave misconduct against the Mayor, her father Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and brother Councilor Paolo Duterte. Both officials flashed rude hand gestures in public while defending the mayor.

The group organized a motorcade from Pasay City to Malacañang Palace. They then proceeded to the Supreme Court to file a disbarment complaint against the mayor.

Mayor Sara Duterte has been in hot water after she was caught on national television, and the internet, punching Sheriff Abe Andres several times for serving a demolition order in Soliman Barangay Kapitan Tomas Monterverde Sr. in Agdao.

The  mayor had requested that the demolition be deferred for two hours, but was turned down by Andres, thus provoking Duterte to exhibit her pugilistic skills  in public.

Originally posted at 02:25 pm | Monday, August 08, 2011