Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on Monday dared President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to comment on the removal of 37 Davao City Police Office (DCPO) personnel including director Col. Richard Bad-ang from their duties.
“I would like to get a comment from DILG and the President on what they think about this issue,” Duterte told media at the sidelines of the turn over ceremony of 500 luggage trolley at the VIP lounge of the Davao International Airport (DIA).
In a special order released on May 24, 2024 by the command of Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) director Brigadier General Aligre Martinez, station commanders and their deputies and police non-commissioned officers were removed from their duties effective May 22, 2024.
In a statement of PRO 11 explained that its decision to relieve the 37 DCPO personnel was based on recommendation of the Regional Internal Affairs Service 11 (RIAS 11) in line with the ongoing investigation on the death of seven suspected drug personalities during police operations in March this year.
“This action coming from PRO 11 is an extraordinary move because usually pag may mga ganitong issues, they usually question the one who is in charge but not this amount. Daghan ang na-relieve dayon kulang ug preliminaries. Ang akong tan-aw though the RD (Martinez) has provide a comment, but I would like to hear a comment from DILG or even from the President, like a reason, because as I said ito kasi na issue bumalik, this happened a month ago. I would like to get a comment from DILG and the President on what they think about this issue,” Duterte said.
“These are hardworking policemen that they are questioning. They have good track records and they have served the people of Davao. Let’s see what they think about this issue,” the mayor added.
Duterte said it is important for him to hear what Abalos’ take on this issue.
Duterte said that for him looking into the police on their operations against people involved in illegal drugs is not worth the time and resources of the PNP.
“We are talking about drugs and it is not a crime na katulad ng pulis being corrupt, a police abusing his power or harming people for their benefit. Kung yun ang isyu nila and angling it nga kaning mga pulis nato nanghilabot ug mga tawo kay tungod they were defending themselves sa ingon ani nga operation against people involved in illegal drugs, sa tan-aw nako it’s not worth the time and resources of the PNP to look into this,” he said.
The mayor also said that the people can pretend that what happened to the police is not politically motivated.
“I declared drugs but never told anyone, never ordered anybody from the police to do anything. It was a declaration coming from me.
But still I do not know but you know pwede naman we can behave like children and pretend that this is not politically motivated,” he said.
The mayor is steadfast that the removal of the police will not affect his declaration of war against illegal drugs in Davao City.
“No. I maintained my position. Ako ni. I never said that they declare it, I did not put words into their mouths and they never declared it themselves but me as mayor of the city and still I reiterate my declaration that this city is at war against drugs. That is very clear because the lives of innocent people matters to me most. The lives of criminals wala ko’y labot ninyo because you are here only to harm innocent people,” he said.
