Duterte warns criminals: Leave the city or suffer the consequences

DAVAO CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took his oath of office yesterday morning, warning criminals, especially those engaged in the illegal drug trade, to leave the city or suffer the consequences.

“To the drug pushers, drug dealers, drug suppliers, and perpetrators of heinous crimes, I say again: ‘Stop and leave if you cannot or will not, otherwise you will regret it. Worse still, you may not survive your grief. The clock is ticking away the hours for you. You can leave either vertically or horizontally. It’s up to you. If you fight, the day ends permanently for you,’” Duterte said in his speech shortly after he took his oath before Municipal Trial Court Judge Jill Jaugan-Lo in front of the city hall.

Duterte, who has been dubbed as “The Punisher,” vowed to pursue his peace and order strategy and make Davao City unsafe for criminals, saying there is no place for criminals here, except at the funeral parlors.

Duterte ran unopposed in the May 13 polls after his daughter, Sara DuterteCarpio, decided not to seek re-election as mayor.

Duterte has been mayor of Davao City for more than 20 years since 1988, with stints as first district representative and vice mayor as he ended his three-term tenures in the past.

Duterte’s son, Paolo, also took his oath of office as vice mayor before a local judge last Friday. More than 20 city councilors also took their oath with Duterte yesterday.

Second district Rep. Mylene GarciaAlbano and third district Rep. Isidro Ungab and 1BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III also took their oath in yesterday’s ceremonies.

Meanwhile, Duterte urged children in conflict with the law to mend their ways now for their and their families’ own good.

“To the children in conflict with the law who have made bloody fights and bloody riots nightly occurrences, do not waste away your lives. The provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 behind which you seek refuge to exempt yourself from accountability for committing an act which, ordinarily, is a crime if committed by an adult, is undergoing amendment. Do not wait for that to happen,” he said.

He said he would keep his vow to attend to the people’s welfare at all times.