Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte punched Abe Andres, a Sheriff of the Davao Regional Trial Court, following the latter's refusal to give her a 2-hour extension to avoid riots during a demolition of shanties in Agdao area.
In a TV Patrol news report, Duterte claimed she called Andres by phone and requested him to wait for her arrival because she was still attending to victims of Tuesday's flashfloods.
Duterte revealed that her plan was to pacify the residents affected by the demolition, but the sheriff did not accede to her request and instead instructed his team to proceed with the operation which started a clash between the two groups.
When Duterte arrived, she lectured the settlers and the demolition team for fighting, and the police for failing to control the situation. Afterwards, she looked for Andres. As the court official was approaching, Duterte suddenly threw a ‘sucker punch’ in his face without a warning.
After the confrontation, Duterte reportedly instructed her staff to bring Andres to Southern Philippines Medical Center and admit him there for medical treatment.
“I actually sent him to the hospital after the confrontation. I think that's sorry enough,” Duterte said in the interview.
Andres opted to stay as an out-patient.
According to a report, Andres said he will leave it to the RTC Sheriffs Association to decide whether or not a case will be filed against Duterte. Andres insisted that his order to start the demolition was in the line of duty.
The lady mayor, on the other hand, said she is ready for any charges.
Learning about the incident, a group of fiscals and legal experts in Manila reportedly said Duterte's action could possibly result to her dismissal from office and disbarment. Duterte is a lawyer by profession. Just like her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Sara is known to be pro-poor.
Meanwhile, interior and local government Secretary Jessie Robredo in an interview aired on ANC said he ordered the conduct of an inquiry on the incident. Robredo said he will wait for the investigation report before submitting his recommendations to the president.
In a TV Patrol news report, Duterte claimed she called Andres by phone and requested him to wait for her arrival because she was still attending to victims of Tuesday's flashfloods.
Duterte revealed that her plan was to pacify the residents affected by the demolition, but the sheriff did not accede to her request and instead instructed his team to proceed with the operation which started a clash between the two groups.
When Duterte arrived, she lectured the settlers and the demolition team for fighting, and the police for failing to control the situation. Afterwards, she looked for Andres. As the court official was approaching, Duterte suddenly threw a ‘sucker punch’ in his face without a warning.
After the confrontation, Duterte reportedly instructed her staff to bring Andres to Southern Philippines Medical Center and admit him there for medical treatment.
“I actually sent him to the hospital after the confrontation. I think that's sorry enough,” Duterte said in the interview.
Andres opted to stay as an out-patient.
According to a report, Andres said he will leave it to the RTC Sheriffs Association to decide whether or not a case will be filed against Duterte. Andres insisted that his order to start the demolition was in the line of duty.
The lady mayor, on the other hand, said she is ready for any charges.
Learning about the incident, a group of fiscals and legal experts in Manila reportedly said Duterte's action could possibly result to her dismissal from office and disbarment. Duterte is a lawyer by profession. Just like her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Sara is known to be pro-poor.
Meanwhile, interior and local government Secretary Jessie Robredo in an interview aired on ANC said he ordered the conduct of an inquiry on the incident. Robredo said he will wait for the investigation report before submitting his recommendations to the president.