Sara denies lobbying to have disbarment case withdrawn

DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Sara Duterte has disavowed the effort of a certain individual reportedly lobbying for the withdrawal of a disbarment case filed against her before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) over the punching of a court sheriff several years back.

In a statement released Wednesday, Mayor Sara said the unnamed individual has been making the rounds, talking to the petitioners and witnesses to make the disbarment case against her go away.

Apparently, the mayor said the individual wanted to get her attention, in hopes that she will support her supposed application for chief justice of the Supreme Court in return.

"I have never asked any complainant or witnesses to withdraw their disbarment case against me as I have always maintained that I will face the consequences of my actions on that fateful day of July 1, 2011," she said.

The mayor was referring to the incident when she punched court sheriff Abe Andres during a demolition row in Agdao, this city.

"This person has been trying to spin my case to get a favorable ruling -- hoping that I may take notice of him," she added.

The punching incident happened after Andres insisted on enforcing the demolition despite the mayor's request for a two-hour extension to prevent a bloody confrontation between settlers of the contested property and the police.

At the time, Mayor Sara requested that the demolition be delayed as she was still attending to the residents affected by the flash flood in Matina.

"This individual should take note that I do not have a hand in Supreme Court appointments. That is beyond my authority as Mayor of Davao City."

"Please do not believe individuals making representations on my behalf," she said, hinting that the unnamed person was acting with corrupt intent.

To prove her point, the mayor even asked the Office of the President to "think twice in appointing this individual to be a Justice -- more so a Chief Justice. He clearly lacks the virtues of honor, justice, and fairness." (Lilian C Mellejor/PNA)