Naga City tells Duterte: Come walk our streets

THE CITY council of Naga has issued a resolution declaring “indignation” over President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s statement that the city was “once a hotbed of shabu,” which it said was “uttered irresponsibly and without factual basis.” The resolution dated Aug. 17 reads in part: “(T)he City Government of Naga, on behalf of all who love this “Maogmang Lugar” (happy place) cannot remain silent over this deep insult hurled against the dignity of all Nagueños.” At the same time, the city council extended an invitation to Mr. Duterte to visit and “walk our safe, peaceful, and drug-free streets.” The city, an independent component city within Camarines Sur, is the hometown of Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, who belongs to the opposition party. Her late husband, Jesse M. Robredo, was mayor of the city for six terms starting in 1988 and later appointed as Interior and Government secretary under the previous administration of Benigno S.C. Aquino III.