Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jan 2006
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Author: Joel B. Escovilla
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte (Rodrigo Duterte)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Davao+Death+Squad (Davao Death Squad)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution (Summary Execution)

CITY WELCOMES TOURISTS, BUT...

His welcome remarks during Tuesday night's opening ceremonies of the
Asean Tourism Forum defined the city's tourism strategy, his second
speech was interspersed with dire warnings on tourists who come to the
city cloaked with bad intentions.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's speech yesterday morning drew mixed reactions
from a crowd of delegates, government officials, journalists, and tour
operators during the ASEAN Tourism Forum conference.

Chucking out his prepared speech as he reached the rostrum, the mayor
gave a half-hour spontaneous address with less subtlety this time, as
he warned abusive tourists and drug peddlers against setting foot in
the city. He also carped on the "arrogance of Americans" as well as
the weakness of the United Nations.

Duterte cursed twice, drawing a spatter of applause and uneasy chuckle
from the audience.

"A few weeks ago, I made my last trip to the US, it was also a
personal protest," he said.

He then narrated an experience by a Filipino-Chinese who was
humiliated by an immigration officer at the airport in the United
States for bringing a counterfeit Rolex watch some two months ago.

He said the officer confiscated the man's watch, pulled out a hammer
and smashed it in front of the crowd.

"The US government refused to turn over the custody of four soldiers
indicted for rape, if given the chance, I demand they go out of the
Philippines," he said.

"I tell Filipinos now not to go to the US because you are treated as a
potential terrorist. I'm not trying to offend anyone but I'm telling
you (the) reality," he said.

Not Constructive

A US national, who requested to remain unidentified, said that the
speech was inappropriate because it wasn't "constructive."

"There are a lot of assumptions, it creates an image of the way
Americans think," he said. "It creates a bogeyman."

He said a lot of Americans are not arrogant and don't support the
militarist attitude of  US President George W. Bush.

"In fact, I probably agree with him (Duterte) on a lot of things," he
said, adding that Duterte was "dealing with stereotypes."

Abusive Tourists

The mayor also took a jab at abusive foreigners, criminals and drug
pushers, claiming that they won't leave the city alive.

"If you're an abusive tourist, if you're a drug leader, if you come to
our country and manufacture drugs and destroy the youth of the land,
you put your life on the line," he said.

Duterte is known for his unorthodox attitude against criminals,
especially drug pushers, constantly threatening them over the media.
His threats proved to be ominous as last year, more than 120 suspected
criminals were killed by men on motorcycle.

He would deny involvement in the vigilante-style killings.

"I will not allow drugs, I will not allow kidnapping, I will not allow
women and children being raped, I deal with the problem as I see fit.
We value human life and you don't solve anything by killing but if it
has come to that, I will do it," he said.

He said the city has a set of laws that should be followed, laws that
are similar to other countries.

Om Prakash, director of Orbit Tours and Trade Fairs Private Ltd.,
agreed with the mayor.

He said Duterte was very practical in his views regarding the world
affairs and the way a city should be run.

When asked whether he agree with the mayor's unconventional and tough
stance against criminals, Prakash said: "I fully agree with him, it's
practical and not a political platform."

The conference is one of the scheduled programs of the nine-day ASEAN
Tourism Forum that will culminate on January 21.

Davao City is hosting the annual event for the first time.
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MAP posted-by: Tom