Brigadier General Alexander Tagum, director of the newly created Metropolitan Davao Police District (MDPD), openly condemned the killing of businesswoman Yvonette “Yvonne” Chua Plaza.
According to Tagum, he is taking the killing of Plaza as a personal insult as a police official and resident of Davao City, which is considered as among the safest cities in Mindanao and in the country.
“Dili ta musugot nga naay mahitabo sa publiko dinhi sa Davao City. Na kaya nato mamusil ug tao, babae pa gyud. It should be an insult to our individual member ng population sa Davao Region na dapat dili ta musugot na mahitabo na dinhi. Musugot ba ta nga mahitabo na sa Davao? Dili. Dapat dili lang kami pulis dapat kita nga mga residente musugot ba ta this coming days mismong anak nato or igsoon nato himoon na sa ilaha? Of course, no! Dili na puwede and so I’ll take it as a personal insult na kaya nilang gawin yun sa Davao City. Babae pa naman. Insulto na sa atoa. Ako mismo naa koy anak na babae musugot ba ko na balang araw na himoon sad to sa akong anak? Patay na sila. Seriously, I’ll take it as a personal insult na kaya to nilang himoon sa Davao City. Ang akong mga kaubanan sa kapulisan mao na dapat gihapon, ang ilang respond. Naulaw ko ug nasubo ko na kaya na nila himoon sa Davao City, which is an unacceptable in my part,” Tagum told media during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.
Plaza, 38, who just disembarked from a Mitsubishi Montero vehicle and was about to open the gate of her rented house at Purok 18, Buttercup Street of Green Meadows Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Niño, Tugbok district, was shot multiple times by motorcycle-riding men on December 29, 2022.
The victim died on the spot after sustaining gunshot wounds on different parts of her body.
Tagum challenged the authorities in Davao City not to let this gruesome killing happen again in Davao City.
“It is a challenge that we will face squarely. Hagit nako to sa mga kapulisan sa Davao City nga dili ta musugot na mahitabo na sa Davao City. We are aspiring na ang Davao City will be one of the safest cities if not in the Philippines at least in Mindanao,” he said.
He also has a message to the criminals and those who are planning to disrupt the peace and order situation in the city.
“I am warning you. Your days are numbered. Harapin ko kayo. I will create MDPD to be a strong force and a tool to ensure the safety and security for the people of Davao. Wala ko naghinambog. Atubangon ta mo, mag ready ko sa mga pwersa nako. Padayon lang ninyo ang kabuang ninyo kay mahunong ang inyong kinabuhi sa kalibutan,” he said.
Tagum is the former chief of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), former Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12) director, and former Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director.
Meanwhile, the MDPD is expected to strengthen the capacity of the police force. It complies with the new law that requires the creation and activation of the said police entity whose operation will be under the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA).
Among the duties and responsibilities of MDPD include directing, commanding, supervising, and controlling the MDPD; enforcing the execution of laws, general orders, instructions, executive orders, city charters, and ordinances of local applications; and coordinating, aligning, and integrating all the local laws covered under MDDA and MDPD.
The Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) is the head unit of MDPD.
“Ang focus ko ngayon ay coordination, series of meetings with the local chief executives, mayors, and governors that will be affected with the new development which is the creation of MDPD,” Tagum said.
It can be recalled that in April this year, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11708, or “An Act creating Metropolitan Davao Development Authority, with the aim of further developing the economy in the region. Metropolitan Davao covers Davao City; Panabo City, Tagum City and Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte; Digos City in Davao del Sur; Mati City in Davao Oriental; and city in Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Padada, Malalag, and Sulop in Davao del Sur, Carmen in Davao del Norte, Maco in Davao de Oro, Malita and Sta Maria in Davao Occidental.
