Group condemns Duterte's attack on Davao sheriff

For the first time since the incident happened, the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines (Scophil) has finally voiced its collective condemnation of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s assault on a court sheriff. Clad in black, Scophil members simultaneously staged condemnation rallies in Quezon City, Pasay City, and Makati City to slam Duterte for repeatedly punching Davao court sheriff Abe Andres last July 1, according to a GMA News TV Live report. Andres had earlier said he would no longer be taking legal actions against Duterte. Scophil, however, urged him to still press charges against the local chief executive. After going on leave since the incident happened, Andres finally reported back to work on Thursday. At the time, he said he no longer plans to involve himself anymore in the demolition in Agdao. He also said he already submitted an incident report to his superiors. Punching incident Hours before the punching incident, Duterte had requested Andres to push back the serving of the demolition order by two hours so she could personally oversee the operation. Without a court approval, her request went unheeded and violence started to mar the demolition operation. Duterte rushed to the site and punched Andres. Quezon City court sheriff Nestor Rivera, a Scophil member, earlier described Duterte’s actions as “demeaning" to the judiciary and the justice system in the country. Rivera, sheriff of the court hearing the high-profile Maguindanao massacre case, said Duterte should have just spoken with Andres instead of physically hurting him. Several groups in the judicial circle have already condemned Duterte’s assault, including a Scophil’s chapter in Cebu and the Quezon City Trial Lawyers League. — JE, GMA News