Duterte vows to jail Santos if seen smoking in public By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
EXASPERATED by reports that former interior secretary Luis Santos was seen smoking in public, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte Monday did not mince a word against a long-time political nemesis, saying if he sees Santos smoking in front of him, he would let him eat his cigarette and send him to jail.
"Tell Santos to smoke in front of me and I will have him eat his cigarette," Duterte was quoted by reporters as saying.
Not only that. The furious city mayor also vowed to arrest the former Davao City mayor, or physically drag him to jail, if necessary, to make him realize the City is serious about its drive against smoking in public.
"Let him repeat the act and I will do it," Duterte said. "Whether he likes it or not, he will have to bow to the majesty of the law."
Duterte was fuming mad over the publicized incident during the 12th Philippine National Police Day at the PNP 11 headquarters in Camp Catitipan last week, when Santos was seen smoking in public, in apparent disregard of the city's anti-smoking ordinance.
Reports also said Santos was smoking right in front of Chief Supt. Isidro Lapeña, regional police chief.
Santos was the first prominent personality in Davao City to have dared smoking in public.
Although he does not want to comment on behalf of the police, Duterte said he could have easily arrested Santos if only he was present that time.
"If you smoke in front of me I will arrest you. Naa lang mga tao gusto magpa-special. Mao na siguro na si Santos," Duterte said. Duterte and Santos had figured in skirmishes in the past.
When Santos was still DILG secretary he suspended Duterte for months. Duterte had also challenged Santos to a gun duel when their paths crossed in a downtown hotel some years back.
So infuriated was the mayor that he continued hurling innuendoes against Santos long after the media interview was finished. "He will have the humiliation of his life," he told city officials.