PNP: Davao City Police reshuffle not due to political issues

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday denied that the recent series of reassignments in the Davao City Police Office are politically motivated.

“Siguro, because of some political issues, nahahaluan po ng kulay po ito,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

“But we want to assure everyone that this is far from reality yung nangyayari na sinasabi na dinudugtong po itong nangyayari sa Davao because of the current political issues,” she added.

(But we want to assure everyone that this is far from reality in what is happening that is being connected to events in Davao because of the current political issues.)

According to Fajardo, officials are selected based on their potential contribution to the programs of the PNP.

In May, 35 police officers of the Davao City Police Office including its chief, Police Colonel Richard Bad-ang, were relieved to give way to the investigation into drug-related killings in the city.

Bad-ang was replaced by Police Region Office (PRO) 11 deputy regional director Police Colonel Rolindo Suguilon, according to Fajardo.

Last June, three police officials and 12 others were relieved over alleged violations in serving the arrest warrant against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. One of the relieved officials was PRO 11 Police Brigadier General Aligre Martinez.

Martinez was replaced by Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III. Torre pulled Suguilon from the Davao City Police Office, according to Fajardo.

On Wednesday, the Davao City Police leadership was transferred to three different officers in just one day: the post went first to Police Colonel Lito Patay then to Police Colonel Sherwin Butil and finally to Police Colonel Hansel Marantan.

PRO 11 spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey said that Marantan's appointment was on the directive of PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil.

Mayor Baste Duterte criticized the changes in the Davao City Police Office, saying that the moves “will not help in sustaining the city’s peace and security situation.”

“This move by [Marbil] and [Torre] undermines the hard work not only of these police officials but also of every police personnel who is truthfully fulfilling their mandate, that instead of being recognized, are being relieved and questioned,” the mayor said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The mass relief of police officials, including the City Police Director, the head of the Special Operations Group, and 19 station commanders, assigned in Davao City will not help in sustaining the city’s peace and security situation,” he added.—RF, GMA Integrated News