DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian Duterte has denounced the recent relief of the city police chief and 34 other policemen, including six station commanders, in connection with anti-drug operations last March that resulted in the death of seven suspected drug dealers.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page last Saturday night, Duterte said the relief of Davao City police chief Col. Richard Bad-ang and his men “appears to be an abuse of power from higher authorities.”
Duterte said the city police station has “consistently shown remarkable effectiveness in maintaining peace and order in our city,” noting a 69 percent decrease in “focus crimes” this month compared to the same period last year.
“This accomplishment reflects the dedication and competence of our police force, working hand in hand with my administration,” said Duterte, the son of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The 35 policemen were recently relieved from their post by the Davao police regional office, pending a probe on anti-drug operations conducted in the city from March 23 to 26 that led to the death of seven suspects.
“It’s disheartening to witness such disruptive actions within our law enforcement agencies. The officers implicated, including esteemed city director Col. Bad-ang and the station commanders, have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their responsibilities,” said Duterte.
“Furthermore, there is substantial evidence supporting the assertion that the buy-bust operations were conducted within the bounds of the law. Any insinuation of misconduct on their part is unfounded and unjust,” added Duterte.
Duterte said Republic Act 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 authorizes mayors to exercise operational supervision and control over PNP units in their respective jurisdictions.
“My active involvement emphasizes my dedication to collaborating with law enforcement to maintain peace and order in Davao City,” said Duterte.
“The recent actions taken against these relieved personnel contradict the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust crucial for effective governance and law enforcement,” he added.
Duterte said he opposes “any efforts to undermine the hard-earned trust between our community and law enforcement.”
He added that the “recent developments serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked authority.”
“I call for transparency and accountability in handling this matter and for the immediate reinstatement of the unfairly relieved officers,” Duterte added.
