The 20th Davao City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Tuesday asked Police Regional Office (XI) Regional Director Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, Acting City Director Police Colonel Hansel Marantan, and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Vicky P. Sarcena to explain the rapid changes in the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) leadership.
SP Committee on Peace and Public Safety Chair Luna S. Acosta proposed the resolution for the necessity of transparency and integrity amid the appointments of three City Directors in a span of 24 hours.
The three City Directors were PCol Lito Patay, who was appointed on July 8; P Col. Sherwin Butil and PCol. Hansel Marantan
Acosta revealed that Patay was the pick of Davao City Mayor Sebastian Baste Duterte while Marantan was not even on the shortlist presented before him.
She said that the process of the appointment of the Chief of Police did not follow Republic Act No. 6976, also known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,” as amended by Republic Act 8851, also known as the “Philippine National Police (PNP) Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998”, which explicitly states that the City mayor has the authority to choose the Chief of Police.
Acosta also noted that the appointment of Marantan is based on RA 8551 which states that in no case shall an Officer-In-Charge be designated for more than 30 days.
“Next month, Davao City will be celebrating its 39th Kadayawan Festival and will be hosting various activities such as the Ironman 70.3 Davao Philippines. Our fellow Davaoeños, tourists, and athletes numbering in thousands will be gathering in Davao City for this major event. How can we assure that our constituents and visiting athletes will not be in harm’s way when the head of the DCPO keeps on changing within a short amount of time?” Acosta said.
“The constant change from one City Director to another in a span of 30 days. These abrupt changes raised important questions, and I will be remiss in my duty as the Chairperson of the Committee on Peace and Public Safety if I do not demand answers. Why do we allow the rule of law to be perverted and taken advantage of in exchange for Davao City’s Peace and Public Safety? This is a call for the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI to explain. Make it make sense. The Davaoeños deserve an explanation,” Acosta added.
Davao City Councilor Pilar C. Braga expressed that the sudden changes caused an unsettling perception of instability within and outside the city of Davao.
“Local educators, teachers, parents, and students do not feel secure,” Braga said, saying that the changes affected peace and order.
Davao City Councilor Alfredo Baloran said anybody from Camp Crame should appear before the SP.
Councilor Bonz Militar said that the recent changes had not happened before, adding that Davao City even was recently declared as one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia. He hopes that the new chief will ensure the safety of Davao and live up to its current standing.
Meanwhile, Councilor Temujin Ocampo relayed that he is hopeful the trust and confidence between the police and the public, which led to the successful peace and order of the city, will continue amid the changes. He also said that barangay captains were worried about coordinating with the newly appointed officials.
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus on the other hand, said it is important that the national government support the local leadership, especially the mayor, a person elected, appointed, and chosen by the people to lead. CIO
