By Brian Jules Campued
The director of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and at least 19 police station commanders were relieved from their posts over prevailing cases of rape and killing in the area, the PNP Regional Office 11 (PRO-11) said Tuesday.
In a statement, PRO-11 Spokesperson PMaj. Catherine Dela Rey said the mass relief order that went effective on Monday included over 20 other officers. The reassignment of officers, Dela Rey explained, was part of their ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of the local police force.
“The reassignment of officers is a crucial part of our duty to ensure that our police force remains dynamic and responsive to the needs of the community,” she stated.
PRO-11 Regional Director PBGen. Nicolas Torre III made the directive following a DCPO report showing that about 41 rape incidents, 22 killings, and three cases of physical injuries were recorded from January to May 2024.
“This translates to one killing and two rapes per week for the 22 weeks covered by the DCPO report,” Torre said, noting discrepancies in crime statistics and inadequate police response times.
According to the PRO-11 chief, some police officials kept two blotters—one of which was “sanitized so as not to reflect the real situation” in a particular area.
Torre, likewise, urged all DCPO personnel to use their communication equipment properly and maintain strict supervision to enhance their response capabilities. He also proposed the implementation of a three-minute response time to ensure swift police response. – iro
