Sun.Star: Duterte denies hand in Lintuan killing

DAVAO CITY - The City Government of Davao does not benefit from the murder of block-time broadcaster Fernando Lintuan, said Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a press conference at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Wednesday afternoon. This developed as police investigators released a cartographic sketch of the two suspects in a separate press conference in Camp Catitipan at noon Wednesday. "Mr. Lintuan has been criticizing me since 1988, and I have respected him for his views. It is the height of stupidity for me to do harm on him hours after he aired his criticism on the People's Park," Duterte said in a statement his staff distributed during the press conference. "Clearly there are unseen groups at work that has set up a scenario wherein City Hall is to be blamed for the killing of a journalist," the statement added. Duterte started the press conference with a declaration that he will not meddle with the investigation on Lintuan's murder. "I should not be intervening in any investigation. Let the police do their job," he said. In relation to his hands-off policy, he said, he is also not giving the police any deadline in identifying the killers and mastermind. "I am inhibiting myself. I am not pressuring anyone. It's up to the police. Kasi ang City Government ang tinuturo; na may corruption," Duterte said, ruing how the story in a national broadsheet was perceived to be slanted to put the suspicion on the city government because of Lintuan's recent tirades on alleged corruption committed in the construction of the park. No graft Duterte also denied Lintuan's charges that there was corruption committed in the construction of the People's Park. "I stand by my word na ang park na iyan ay malinis," the mayor said, challenging anyone, including journalists from outside Davao to probe into the park and prove that indeed there was graft committed. If anyone can prove that even P10 has been misappropriated in the project, the mayor said: "I will resign." "Bakit ko papatayin ang mga journalists na tumutulong?" he asked. "I should reward Lintuan instead kasi andito ako nagmamalinis sa harap ng tao tapos meron palang ganun." No need to kill On a lighter note, the mayor said he has no reason to kill any of his detractors because no matter what his detractors has been saying or writing about him, his lead against his political opponents have continued to pile up since he became mayor in 1988, trouncing his fiercest rivals namely former City Mayor Benjamin C. de Guzman and First District Representative Prospero C. Nograles. The mayor led by 100,000 votes when Nograles ran against him for the mayoralty post in the 1980s, while de Guzman lost by over 120,000 votes three elections ago. "You want some more? It's just too bad that I cannot run anymore," he said. No dawn for mastermind While the mayor said he will keep his hands off the investigation, he announced a P500,000 reward for any police unit who gets to arrest the real killers first. "Mag-unahan sila ng mga mahuhuli," he said. He added that he is also working through his networks to get at the mastermind. "Malalaman at malalaman ko iyan," he said, referring to his network of information in the city that helps him track down criminals. What Duterte wants to know is who had Lintuan killed, because that will confirm the plot that he smells. "Kung sino ang naglaglag sa kanya, yan ang gusto kong malaman," he said. Once he finds out and confirms a plot to set-up the city government, consequently himself, the mayor vowed to get back at the person. "Kung sine-set up mo ako, sigurado ko... you will not see your dawn," he said. Shades of Palparan? Pressed on who most benefits from Lintuan's death, the mayor only replied with a question. "Who will benefit, ako? Why is (Retired General Jovito) Palparan working for a congressman here? Yan totoo yan. Palparan is a consultant of a congressman here in Davao. I'm asking, why?" Duterte was informed on Palparan's whereabouts by two generals who, likewise, warned Palparan to stay off from the affairs in Davao. Palparan was accused by militant organizations as having orchestrated the series of summary executions in Luzon during his tenure. Duterte is in a word war with Davao City 1st District Representative Prospero Nograles. In a texted message, Nograles vehemently denied that he hired a retired general as consultant. "I hardly know him and he is not my consultant in Congress both official and personal. He is not even a close associate of mine," Nograles said. Not the first time Asked whether the mayor intends to help the four sons Lintuan left, the mayor only said that all he can do is offer help, but it is up to the boys' relatives if the assistance will be accepted. Lintuan left behind four sons, Steve, Jan Mark, Franz Ferdinand, and Von Carlo, aged 10 to 20. "This is not the first time I helped him," the mayor said, adding that even though Lintuan had always been allied with Nograles as well as some other politicians including former OIC Mayor Zafiro L. Respicio, and de Guzman, he did not hesitate to extend assistance when Lintuan sought him out at the time Nora, Lintuan's wife, was found to have cancer and needed treatment. Nora died two years ago. "Nag-offer ko. Kung tanggihan, pasensiya, wala tayong magawa," the mayor said. This is not the first encounter with the gun for Lintuan, as well. Sometime August 1987, Lintuan was wounded when gunmen barged into the announcer's booth of dxRA along Magallanes Street and opened fire killing radio announcer Leo Palo. Lintuan survived the attack as Palo fell on him after being peppered with bullets. Twenty years later, Lintuan was felled by assassins who were waiting for him leave the radio station. Lintuan was driving his green Volkswagen Monday morning and was on his way out from dxGO along R. Castillo, Agdao this city when the assassins ambushed him. Lintuan was with his two other fellow broadcasters inside the vehicle. Lintuan had to stop at the corner because a tricycle was unloading passengers. That was when the gunmen fired at him, first from across the narrow road, and then at two more, just right outside the car. Mongao said no one saw the face of the motorcycle driver as he was said to be wearing a helmet. "Pero may mga nakakita sa mukha nung gunman kasi nakausap pa ito ng witness natin," Mongao said. Talks among radiomen claims the gunman has been waiting at the street corner about an hour before, asking those around if the green Volkswagen has already passed by. The body of Lintuan was autopsied by authorities Wednesday afternoon. As of this writing, the National Bureau of Investigation people are just waiting for the people from Malacañang to arrive before performing the autopsy. - Sun.Star