Two judicial organizations have asked the Supreme Court to take action against Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who punched a court sheriff while carrying out a demolition order against informal settlers early this month.
In separate letters to Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) and the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines Inc. (Scophil) said the SC should sanction Duterte-Carpio, who is also a lawyer.
“The incident demoralized and humiliated the court, hence, respectfully requesting for an immediate resolution to the said incidence. Otherwise, it would be a precedent to future executions and in the further exercise of duties of the courts," PACE national president lawyer Virginia Coloma-Rafael said in her group's letter.
Last July 1, television cameras caught Duterte-Carpio assaulting court sheriff Abe Andres, who was about to enforce a demolition order in the village of Soliman.
Hours before the punching incident, Duterte-Carpio said she had requested Andres to put the demolition order on hold for two hours so she could personally oversee the operation. Without a court approval, her request went unheeded and violence marred the demolition. Duterte-Carpio rushed to the site and punched Andres.
GMA News Online tried to reach Duterte-Carpio’s lawyer, Salvador Panelo, for comment but he could be contacted as of this posting. Duterte-Carpio’s camp has repeatedly justified and stood by the mayor's actions.
In its letter, PACE said Duterte-Carpio’s act “created insult to a public servant (Andres) while exercising his duty as executing sheriff."
Chapters of PACE in Makati City, Regions 4 and 8 also sent separate letters to the chief justice in support of Andres.
Mayor should be investigated
“Mayor [Duterte-Carpio] should be investigated and penalized to restore respect to the employees of the judiciary. We, who are in the honest belief that we [are] legally executing a court order, should be protected in the performance of [our] lawful function," said PACE Region 8 director Leila Cinco.
Cinco likewise demanded that Duterte issue a public apology to Andres and to the judiciary.
For its part, Scophil told the SC that it will seek justice for Andres.
“Being a local chief executive, she is answerable to the secretary of DILG and to the President. And being a lawyer, she owes fealty to the courts, which is her first duty as an officer thereof," said the group.
Last Monday, Scophil filed with the Office of the Ombudsman a complaint against Duterte for direct assault and grave misconduct.
Sought for comment, Court Administrator and concurrent SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the SC may only do so much in sanctioning Duterte-Carpio.
Marquez, whose office has administrative supervision over Philippine courts, said the SC may only look into the supposed disbarment complaint filed against the mayor last week.
“My concern as court administrator is the safety and well-being of our court officers, including the sheriffs. We have to make sure that the courts perform their duties and the rulings are served," he said.
Despite this, Marquez said Duterte-Carpio's behavior toward Andres was "unwarranted."
“What we don’t want to happen is for a similar incident in other places wherein other people would intervene in regular court processes," he said. — VS
