Duterte guilty of misconduct: Local Government

By Jereco O. Paloma and Virgil B. Lopez
Thursday, July 21, 2011
MANILA — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) found Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte guilty of misconduct for punching a court sheriff during a demolition of illegal settlers’ shanties last July 1.
However, the DILG could not file administrative charges against the mayor due to some legal actions earlier filed by the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (Scophil) at the Office of the Ombudsman.
Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said Scophil’s complaint precluded the DILG from filing its own administrative case against the mayor because “this will violate the principle of forum-shopping.”
Aside from the direct assault charge filed by the sheriffs’ group, a Manila-based lawyer also filed disbarment case against Duterte at the Supreme Court.
“This level understands Mayor Duterte’s attempt to help her constituents avoid bloodshed or prevent sustaining injuries to them by delaying enforcing the court order for at least two hours. But punching the court sheriff was neither an acceptable nor the only option then obtaining,” read the report submitted by Robredo to President Benigno Aquino III.
Duterte lost her cool and punched Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 sheriff Abe Andres repeatedly in the face after not granting the mayor’s request of a two-hour extension before pushing through with the demolition.
The incident happened at Agdao district here on July 1, when Andres implemented a writ of demolition on hundreds of illegal shanties on a privately owned property.
In the same report, Robredo said Duterte’s defense was inexcusable and that she could have averted the demolition without using force.
“While it is true that she did not…manifest anything that will show her defiance of the writ of demolition…her acts of preventing the execution of the order of Judge (Emmanuel) Carpio, particularly when she punched Sheriff (Abe) Andres, could be an act of misconduct,” the report read.
“She could have achieved the same purpose by directing the policemen that she was settling the matter. She could have summoned and confronted the sheriff and plead her case for the affected families without taking the law into her own hands,” it added.
Robredo said Duterte could have talked to the plaintiff for her to be given the requested grace period or she could still exhaust remaining or possible legal remedies that will stay the demolition, temporarily or otherwise.
“When Mayor Duterte did not venture in any of these options, probable cause has existed for her to be indicted for misconduct,” the report said.
Robredo also noted that the court had a share of missteps when it tried to enforce the demolition, through Andres, without observing the required 30-day notice.
The report said the court should have taken into consideration that the affected families are mostly urban dwellers and that the 30-day reglamentary period must have been applied.
It was referring to a provision of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, which states that a 30-day grace period must be observed before the implementation of the demolition order.
“Had the 30-day notice rule been applied, the tension that erupted between the urban poor dwellers and the demolition team that was triggered by affecting the writ and that led to the untoward incident involving the Mayor and the sheriff could have not taken place,” the order read.
As for Duterte’s close-in security aide Police Officer 2 Dennis Roderick Cabudti, the department asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct an investigation to determine any administrative liability.
Cabudti was the police officer caught on video footages grabbing Andres by the hand and head and dragging him to the mayor during the incident.
The report also contained the department’s recommendations to the Office of the Supreme Court Administrator on how to avoid a repeat of such incident.
On Wednesday, Duterte remained mum on the recommendation of the DILG to Aquino, who is her political ally.
“No official copy was given to me. I will not comment on the statements of DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. I will just wait for notice of summons for the cases,” the mayor said.
Duterte earlier said she is ready to face whatever legal and even personal consequences that she might face over the incident.
Even if it means disbarment and dismissal from her post, Duterte said she will accept it whole-heartedly.
Duterte said she is ready to be excluded in the roll of attorneys for after all, she has not been practicing her profession. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/21/duterte-guilty-misconduct-local-government-168054

Many tourists and residents of Manila traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Pampanga Angeles City, Clark Philippines are surprised to find a a large wine shop so near Manila right in the heart of Pampanga, just 70 minutes from Manila. Even residents of Subic travel to Clark via ScTex to do some wine shopping in this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center, a project of Hong Kong-based Yats International.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Public wine tastings are held by this well known wine shop of Pampanga from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark to buy some fine vintage wine to bring home after their holidays and vacations. Many find a top rated wine shop called Clark Wine Center to be an exciting place to do some shopping in Clark Pampanga. This famous wine shop is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to drink good wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. This frequently visited wine shop is known by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. Many attend the regular wine tasting held either outdoor on the roof deck or in indoor on the second floor above the wine shop. The place has good atmosphere for a private wine tasting party or a small night out gatherings for business or social event.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com