VOL. 8 ISSUE 201 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016
P 15.00 • 20 PAGES
www.edgedavao.net
SPMahamud HAS NEW GUY attends first session as new SP member
EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society
By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net
M
ORE than two years after resigning as city councilor to become city administrator, lawyer Jesus Melchor Quitain was finally replaced at the City Council by lawyer John Christopher T. Mahamud. Mahamud, former counsel of the City Legal Office, attended his first City Council session yesterday. He was appointed by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is the chairman of the local political party Hugpog sa Tawong Lungsod,
in September 2015 but the appointment was approved only in December by Malacañang in an order signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. Quitain had resigned as councilor of the first district in September 2013 after accepting the post of city administrator offered by Duterte, who had just won another term as mayor after serving three years as vice mayor. Mahamud, in an interview yesterday at the sidelines of the Council session,
said he was flattered to be appointed by Duterte as substitute for Quitain. “I am flattered and also challenged since it is a big shoe to fill in. We cannot deny the big contribution of Atty. Qutain as veteran legislator in the City Council,” he said. “But who am I to question the judgment of our mayor as the chairperson of our political party?” he added. Mahamud said he will try his best not to fail Duterte’s trust and prove his worth in
the position. He said given the short span of time of his term, which will end in six months, he will try to look into the amendments of the Davao City Investment Code. He said some provisions in the code are vague and difficult to understand and prone to misinterpretation. Mahamud said he is supposed to handle the committees on education, youth or cultural minorities but will leave the decision to Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte.
KICK-OFF. The campaign team for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s presidential bid kicks off its two-day national campaign conference at The Grand Regal Hotel yesterday. The Duterte campaign team 2016 is composed of experienced personalities from various regions in the country. Lean Daval Jr.
EDGEDAVAO Sports Farewell fight for Manny P15