By IVY TEJANO
DAVAO CITY – A city councilor criticized the reorganization of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) that she said was carried out by authorities without consulting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
BRAGA (FB)
Committee on Education, Culture and Arts, and Science and Technology Chairman Councilor Pilar C. Braga said in a statement on Thursday, July 11, that the unprecedented reorganization of the DCPO which had three police chiefs in about 13 hours is very unsettling for the people here.
Police Col. Lito E. Patay was appointed on Wednesday, July 10. However, in the afternoon, Patay was replaced by Police Col. Sherwin Butil, who had yet to warm up his seat when the Philippine National Police headquarters tapped Police Col. Hansel Marantan, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) chief, to succeed him.
Braga said the selection and appointment of the city police chief have always been in close consultation with the mayor to ensure local law enforcement is coordinated, efficient, and effective.
She said unforeseen changes create a perception of instability within and outside this city. She added that those in authority should be held accountable for their decisions and actions that endanger the lives of the people they should protect.
“Just when we are preparing for the beginning of a new school year, the local education officials, teachers, parents, and students do not feel secure with the seemingly chaotic state of our local police that impacts our peace and order,” Braga said.
She added that the DCPO shakeup erodes people’s trust in the police, political leaders, and social institutions. She said that matters of governance, the provision of essential services, and the enforcement of national and local laws should remain unaffected by partisan politics.
“That is why we have social institutions that follow the rules and processes we all agreed on, such as a government that functions well to serve the people regardless of who the politicians in power are at any given period,” Braga said.
Braga said the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) reorganization is very unusual because the DCPO has consistently been recognized as one of the best police offices in the country and recently was lauded for the 36 percent drop in the crime rate from January to March this year.
She said online database Numbeo named Davao City as the second safest city in Southeast Asia in 2023. Baraga said the DCPO's success over the years is due to the teamwork between law enforcement, the local government, and the community.