Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte expressed skepticism concerning the robbery incident of a pawnshop in Davao City last week saying it could be a commissioned job, politically motivated or it could go both ways.
“I’d like to sound unbiased when giving my analysis of this incident. Ang tingin ko, puwede naman kasi talaga na that individual na galing ng Leyte, he was asked to do a job here in Davao, kung illegal man o hindi niya alam, doon dinala at yan ang ginawa nila. Or it could be na sinadya, it is easy to pay, madali bayaran ang isang tao gumawa and you know a promise of a reward pag nagawa nila yun, something a criminal activity dahil sa gutom ngayon ng Pilipino, sa sobrang hirap,” the mayor said in his podcast “Basta Dabawenyo” on Sunday.
Last week, at least six suspects in the broad daylight robbed a pawnshop along Ilustre Street.
Based on CCTV footage, four suspects carried out the brazen daylight robbery. The DCPO released CCTV screen grab photos of three armed suspects with one carrying a long firearm.
After a hot pursuit operation, authorities were able to arrest one of the suspects who hails from Albuera, Leyte at Bankerohan Public Market and recovered bags containing a 9mm handgun, a high-powered rifle, dozens of ammunition, and some of the pieces of jewelries.
“Sa experience ko bilang alkalde ng Davao we have similar incidents hold up pero mostly pag nahuhuli namin or if we solve the case inside job talaga yan kadalasan kaya nag succeed. Pero ito (robbery) parang hindi nila alam ang gagawin nila because sira yung motor mo, naka tsinelas lang, pula pa yung brief mo, yung ang makita ko na medyo parang skeptical din ako kasi ang mga crimes talaga they have to be well planned. Usually sa mga nakita namin dito sa Davao, alam na nila ang gagawin nila, pero ito parang wala, pumunta lang doon (pawnshop), sige you make a scene and kami na bahala or you get something in exchange, puwedeng ganon kasi,” the mayor added.
The mayor said there is a possibility that criminals now are encouraged to commit crimes because the Marcos administration and the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Rommel Marbil are lenient with criminals.
“Going back to the issue, it could go both ways pero isa talaga diyan, may nangyayari na ganon, it could be both. Madali na lang makakita ng tao na ganon (robbers) because alam naman nila na hindi naman instrikto yung Presidente or puwede din gamitin sa pulitika. We will never know but yung both angles can go together,” Duterte said.
In November last year, Marbil pronounced that not all drug users are addicts, nor do they want to be addicted, and that many use drugs to extend their working hours.
“So kahit pa man we are doing everything that we can to secure Davao City pero if yung PNP chief magsasalita na ang droga pampagising, what can you expect kung paano mag behave yung mga criminals right now? It is very encouraging for them na nakikita nila na hindi talaga istrikto yung Presidente natin pagdating sa peace and order. Maya’t maya na lang may makikita ka, yung mga matatanda na tao, yung mga pinapatay nila pinuputulan pa ng ulo tapos bangag nahuhuli, eh its all documented,” Duterte said.
He added that Marbil’s pronouncement is very disturbing because drugs are prohibited and the pronouncement should not be coming from somebody’s mouth especially when you are the chief PNP.
“A lot of crazy things are happening in the country right now, especially crimes. Yung sinasabi niya (Marbil on drugs as upper) is very disturbing because prohibited yang drugs should not come from somebody’s mouth especially when you are the chief PNP, kung gobyerno ka. Para kasing sinasabi mo you’re tolerating these kinds of activities and everything that you know similar to those illegal and criminality,” Duterte said.
