Reports on the suspension of Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte and Vice Mayor J Melchor Quitain Jr remain just that, unverified reports.
Harvey Lanticse, head of the City Information Office (CIO) of Davao, disclosed to Edge Davao that there are no communications received by the City Mayor’s Office (CMO) concerning the rumored suspension of any officials of the city government of Davao.
Rumors were circulating online on Friday that Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. will be suspended in connection with the Davao City’s war against drugs campaign.
“As far as I know, wala mi information or any communication or document regarding sa suspension of any official of the LGU as discussed on social media,” Lanticse said.
The alleged suspension was also bared by lawyer Harry Roque on SMNI news channel online on Friday.
“Isususpinde daw si Mayor BAste Duterte. Totoo po yan at iyan ay isang impormasyon na nakarating na hindi lang sa akin at pati na rin doon sa mga taga Davao. Ang tanong ano na naman ba ang ginawang kasalanan ni Mayor Baste? Well, hindi lang dahil siya ay Duterte, kundi siya po talaga ay simbolo, modelo ng maisug na Pilipino kaya nga kung magkatotoo man itong pagsuspinde hindi lang ito dagok sa pamilyang Duterte, ito ay dagok sa buong sambayanang Pilipino dahil tinitingala ngayon si Mayor Baste bilang mukha ng mga “maisug” dahil talagang naninindigan siya,” Roque said.
Roque also cited the mayor’s participation in the search and rescue operations when Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City in 2013.
“Pero huwag nating kalimutan bukod sa pagiging DUterte ito si Mayor Baste hindi pa siya sa larangan ng pulitika siya ay happy go lucky lamang noong panahon ng Yolanda ay tinigil ang lahat at nagpunta doon at tumulong sa pag-aalaga sa mga survivors,” he said.
