Davao’s Duterte Denies Killing ‘Batman’

THE MAYOR’S PRESS STATEMENT

I condemn and mourn the death of radio broadcaster Fernando “Ferdie” Lintuan. Thus, we should give him and his family real justice and not engage in finger-pointing.

That is why I deplore the act of some politicians here who are quick to the draw in blaming certain groups hours after the late Lintuan was killed.

To do that sans evidence and without giving due course to formal investigation to take place is the height of injustice to Mr. Lintuan. It’s like killing him all over again.

The danger in such act is that we are already tying down the hands of the police to follow the roar of the mob and pick up the wrong people. That would be adding insult to the senselessness of the killing of Mr. Lintuan.

What we have here is a tragedy for the Lintuan family, a tragedy for press freedom and peace and order; and so we must spare Mr. Lintuan and his family from political posturing.

Death is a sacred and tragic matter; we must spare it from political exploitation. Let us not follow the ways of the vultures. Mr. Lintuan deserves our respect even in death.

That is why I applaud the declaration of Philippine National Police investigators under PNP Chief Director General Avelino I. Razon that they will look at “all claims coming from different quarters.”

City Hall will support and cooperate with the investigation done by the NBI men sent by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and as well as other investigating agencies.

On my part, I have already offered a P500,000 reward for the immediate capture and arrest of the suspects. I will also shoulder all the necessary expenses and other needs of the family of Mr. Lintuan.

As to the issue he raised relative to alleged irregularities in the Davao City People’s Park, I am asking the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit to initiate an investigation on the alleged overprice.

And if they see anything overpriced by 10 pesos, I will resign and swear not to run for office again.

My reputation for respecting journalists is as spotless as my graft-free record in my 17 years in office.

Mr. Lintuan has been criticizing me since 1988, and I have respected him for his views. It is the height of stupidity for me to do harm on him hours after he aired his criticism on the People’s Park. Clearly there are unseen groups at work that has set up a scenario wherein city hall is to be blamed for the killing of a journalist.

Thus, I call on my political colleagues to stop riding on the issue of Mr. Lintuan’s killing and let true justice take its course. Clearly the issue here is justice and press freedom, not politics.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte
Davao City

Please Contact for Inquiries:
Mr. Alex Roldan
City Information Officer
Davao City
09207749913