Rody no comment on Leni twit about peace and order

MAYOR Rodrigo Duterte refused to engage in a word war with Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo who was quoted as saying that Naga City is also peaceful without the need to issue threats to criminals.

“We achieved the same results in Naga… ‘yung peace and order, ‘yung discipline among the people… we achieved the same things without that kind of attitude,” she was quoted in the Nov. 27 article from Philippine Star.

“It may have worked in Davao and in many other places… but based on experience we were able to achieve the same results without resorting to those things,” Robredo said, referring to Duterte’s hardline methods against crime.

But on Sunday’s “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” Duterte played down Robredo’s criticisms.

“If Naga City is truly peaceful, I will not touch it,” he said.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the presumed vice presidential candidate of Duterte, came to the cudgels of the Davao City mayor.

In a statement released to TIMES, he said that Duterte doesn’t stand for violence for for order.

“With all due respect to Rep. Leni, I think she is wide off the mark on this one,” the statement read. “Davao’s crime volume is way below compared to Naga or Metro Manila, which are currently at alarming levels. This is despite Davao City being bigger compared to Metro Manila and Naga, and home to a diverse population composed of Christians, Muslims, other ethnic groups and groups of opposing ideologies.”

“Instead of attacking Mayor Duterte, let’s duly recognize his accomplishments, learn and find ways how his success can be replicated in other cities,” Cayetano added.

Meanwhile, Duterte said that he was not surprised with the jumping ship of local leaders in the region, after news broke out that there are already members of the LP ticket already thinking of jumping ship to support Duterte.

Duterte made national headlines last week after making first place, at 34%, in a survey of Metro Manila residents who were asked their preference for the presidency.

The survey was initiated by Duterte supporters, with interviews conducted weeks before his announcement of candidacy.