Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is keeping track of resolutions passed in the City Council, particularly on requests for land reclassification as these have become “sources of corruption.”
Mr. Duterte’s statement in a way is a continuation of his tirade against yet unnamed corrupt officials and employees in the local government.
Days ago, he also discussed this topic during gatherings of barangay officials and in his talks with media practitioners, and on his popular radio-television programs — “Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa” and “Ato Ni Bai”.
In those public appearances, the vice mayor zeroed in on an old modus operandi of corrupt officials and factotums of delaying action on reclassification requests, or on release of funds if they involve money for government projects.
We think that the vice mayor ‘s warning, threat if you may, that corrupt public officials, including members of the City Council, risk exposure, if they do not mend their crooked ways, is fair enough. He even hinted that after exposure, records of the anomaly would be forwarded to the Ombudsman.
The vice mayor’s recent actions augur well for every Dabawenyo’s desire to have a local government that is transparent and less corrupt–at least.
However, given the hard-headedness of some crooked officials, Dabawenyos can expect any day now a headline-grabbing expose of corruption coming from the vice mayor.
And watch local media lap it up.
