President Rodrigo R. Duterte reminded the Davao City Police Office to take care of the new 26 patrol cars donated by the Japanese Government.
The president gave the reminder during the inauguration of the new Regional Crime Laboratory Office 11 and turn-over of new Mitsubishi Montero patrol cars on Monday afternoon.
He said when he was the mayor of the city, he is ‘very emphatic with the maintenance’ since the ‘serviceability’ of vehicles will depend on the maintenance.
Duterte said the DCPO director should have personnel who will look on the regular maintenance schedule of these police vehicles so that it will last long.
“They are not cheap. They are had to buy in the lifetime of the city and the ones given to you are almost a luxury car to us. Montero for the average Filipinos is a luxury car,” he said.
The president said he expects that these vehicles should last for a long time with proper maintenance.
“It should not be used for personal errands of any officer,” he said.
Duterte said the new police vehicles should be used for peace and order purposes only.
He said the city has allotted budget for the hiring of drivers of these new vehicles so that the police will concentrate on patrol operations.
“Those who do not know how to drive, you should not use that as a practice car,” he said.
Duterte also thanked the people and government of Japan for donating the patrol vehicles to DCPO.
“These units will allow our police to more competently perform their duties as well as enable the Police Regional Office 11 to ensure peace and order in the Davao region,” he said.
DCPO city director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum vowed the patrol cars will be maintained properly.
“When we heard that we will be receiving patrol cars from Japanese government, my first request to Mayor Sara Z. Duterte is to give us drivers who are civilians, professionals and dedicated to their jobs,” Tagum said.
Tagum said these drivers will ensure that these vehicles will be handled properly and maintained well because if the police officers will drive these vehicles, the regular maintenance will not be followed.
“ Because the primary duty of the police is to maintain peace and order,” he said.
Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda said the vehicles are donated to DCPO, to enable them in responding crimes.
Haneda said that in Japan, being a police officer is one of the most admired jobs by Japanese children.
“We sincerely hope that these 26 patrol cars will not only enable the Davao PNP officers more capably respond when the need arises.
But also, attract more Davaoeño kids as possible to this honorable profession and to make them become honorable officers,” he said.
Haneda said that with the president’s ‘rigorous’ campaign on peace and order, the Japanese government is ‘delighted’ to help the country to attain it.
