Duterte Fingers and the Inday Sara Punch






A lot has been said about the incident involving Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Davao City Regional Trial Court Sheriff Abe Andres last July 1. If a punch of Manny Pacquiao unites a nation, Inday Sara's punch surely divided us whether it was just or unjust.







Inday Sara's three punches weren't able to bring down Sheriff Abe Andres but it surely gave him a black-eye.


There are those who say that what Inday Sara did was just right. After all, the people tasked to implement the demolition order were not considerate of the situation which struck Davao City. They also claimed that the police incited the unrest. Majority of the people in Davao City have aired their support for their mayor and wore green to show their support.


Others say that it was a clear abuse of power and a violation of the separation of powers principle. Even Commission on Human Rights Chair Etta Rosales lamented the actions of the mayor for resorting to physical assault.


The defenders and critics continue to trade barbs on this one and I can't still see an end to it.


Another thing that has caught everyone's attention is the Duterte family's love of the "dirty finger." Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte defended her daughter Inday Sara from media people who continue to slice and dice her punches. Not contented with his anger, he flashed the "dirty finger" two times as if one can't still grasp it. Then came another "dirty finger" incident given by his son Davao City Councilor Paulo Duterte to the media.








With the popularly known "Duterte Finger", the punches and the "dirty finger" have placed the spotlight on the Dutertes. Whether it was right or not, each of us will always differ. For me, the "dirty finger" was an exercise of Vice Mayor Duterte's freedom of expression. There goes the censor anyway but at the end of the day, that "dirty finger" will always exist. It may be taboo but it's reality.


Menandro Chavez III
Econ211B
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