Peace with Ramon Bautista an issue? Mayor Duterte has 'reminder' for Davao City council

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has a reminder for those who would take issue with him making peace with comedian Ramon Bautista, who was earlier declared persona non grata by the city council.

 

In a series of posts on Facebook, Duterte discussed the issue, addressing his point to the city council headed by Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte — who happens to be his own son.

 

"Let me remind the honorable vice mayor and the majority that their decision to declare Ramon Bautista persona non grata is a city council resolution and not an ordinance. It does not bind me and everyone else who disagree with it," he said. 

 

"The essence of democracy is the right to dissent. As Voltaire would put it, 'I may disagree by what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.'"

READ: How Mayor Duterte made peace with Ramon Bautista

 

The issue started after Bautista made a joke describing women of Davao City as "hipon," a Filipino pejorative for people with sexy bodies but unattractive faces, at the Kadayawan Festival. Despite an apology from Bautista at the event and later on Twitter, he was still censured by the city council.

 

But Duterte said holding a grudge against the comedian would be wrong.

 

"When a man humbles himself and apologizes for uttering a slur, that itself erases the wrong...to nurture residual hate against the guy is a human frailty," he said.

 

Duterte made peace with Bautista after a phone conversation with the comedian. The mayor also wrote a handwritten note to Bautista, which the comedian then posted on Instagram. — Joel Locsin/JST, GMA News