Official statement of Acting City Mayor VM Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi on crimes and human rights.

Acting City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight against crime and illegal drugs.

Together with the City PNP, Acting City Mayor Guiani-Sayadi has been visiting the streets of Cotabato and headed operations against perpetrators destroying the city.

In the last City PNP accomplishment report during the Peace and Order Council Meeting; crimes in Cotabato have been decreasing since the official joins police operations and ronda patrols.

“The President, in his speech, said that human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country. As a lawyer and a city public official, I also respect everybody's human rights and I believe that all Filipino citizens must enjoy these. But undeniably, crimes have been lurking everywhere in our country as much as these are committed in our city. We have families to protect and lives to save. We must all put in mind that there are real victims that we need to defend”, said Acting City Mayor Guiani-Sayadi.

The official also added that we should focus on how to help the real victims and not just the rights of drug users, and alleged criminals but those that are victims of crime perpetuated by those that are under the influence of illegal drugs and gun-for-hire individuals.

The official also said that discipline among cotabatenos must be imposed and thus justice must be served; “I am not saying or encouraging death among criminals, but we should be vigilant enough to give justice to the real victims… looking back, our city have been terrorized and destroyed, victims of riding in tandem are everywhere, illegal drugs have been sold out anywhere in our city and theft and robbery have been a long problem. We should not just cry for the lives of the alleged drug addicts but we must cry and shout for justice to the real victims of crimes committed”.

Acting City Mayor Guiani Sayadi also encourages all cotabatenos to be vigilant and immediately report crimes in the city; “Do not be afraid to stand up against criminalities, let us all unite to end crime in our beloved Cotabato City. (HALIMA K. SATOL-IBRAHIM/MINDANAO EXPOSE’)