PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will meet with more than 300 mayors in the Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas regions in Cebu City today as he graces the Visayas Island Cluster Conference of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP).
Tuburan, Cebu Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante, LMP Cebu chapter president and LMP Visayas president, said that the mayors expect to hear instructions from Duterte to continue the information drive on federalism.
This will be Duterte’s fifth visit in Cebu this year. He was also in Cebu last February, May, June, and July.
During the start of the Visayas Island Cluster Conference yesterday at Radisson Blu, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada addressed the mayors.
Prior to the President’s arrival today, also expected to deliver speeches are Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, and Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Peace and order
If he were to be given a chance to have an audience with President Duterte, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he would like to talk about the spate of killings and the peace and order situation in the city.
In his news conference, Osmeña said he was not invited to the conference since it is only for municipal mayors.
“Daghan unta (There are a lot of things to discuss with the President). I don’t really like to make ‘singit’ and talk to him, unless he asks me that question. He should know (about the suspected involvement of the police in the spate of killings),” he said.
The mayor has been vocal about being “very upset and disturbed” by what he described as an unusual happening in Cebu.
He earlier said that he looks at the police as part of the problem on security, instead of the solution.
Full alert
Police in Central Visayas will be on full alert status today for President Duterte’s visit and observance of Eid’l Adha.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas said the region will be placed under full alert starting at 7 a.m.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) already declared a full alert status yesterday afternoon.
CCPO Director Royina Garma said she has instructed the lower units to visit and secure the areas where Muslims will gather for prayers.
Sinas, for his part, said all PRO 7 personnel are not allowed to go on leave, but Muslim police officers are allowed to join the celebration of Eid’l Adha, which is also called the Festival of Sacrifice.
President Duterte had declared Eid’l Adha a regular holiday, although Aug. 21 is also Ninoy Aquino Day.
A civil disturbance management team had been assembled to secure the venue in Cebu City where the conference of municipal mayors is being held.
Sinas instructed his personnel to observe maximum tolerance of anti-Duterte protesters. (EOB, KAL, RTF)