Police exec to criminals: I will hang you

DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) chief Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa warned criminals that he will hang them one by one once their paths crossed.

"Di nako kailangan pa hagiton sa mayor kay ako mismo gihagit na sa kriminal sa ila binuhatan. Bisan unsa pa man na inyong rason, bitayon tamo (The mayor does not need to challenge me because I was already challenged by these criminals of what they are doing. Whatever your reasons are for committing a crime, I will hang you)," dela Rosa said during Thursday’s I-Speak forum at the city hall conference room.

Dela Rosa issued the stern warning in the wake of shooting incidents that killed a police informant, a taxi driver, and an electrician.

The criminal acts happened as the DCPO is implementing a month-long gun ban in the entire city for the celebration of the 27th Kadayawan Festival.

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio earlier reminded the authorities and other law enforcement agencies to strictly implement the localized gun ban and to do their job. She even dared the law enforcers to double their efforts in maintaining peace and order in the city.

Dela Rosa admitted he was challenged by perpetrators of these shooting incidents, whom he described as members of guns-for-hire.

He said law enforcers are now tracking these suspects, but he refused to divulge more details in order not to jeopardize police operations.

But, despite the spate of shooting incidents, Dela Rosa wouldn't say there was failure on their part in implementing the gun ban.

"I must give justice to my men because they are working hard," dela Rosa said.

When asked to comment of the plan of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Davao to re-investigate the existence of the vigilante group with the series of killings, Dela Rosa said he will support such move of the agency.

The gun ban imposed by the DCPO has also led to the arrest of four persons. These individuals are now facing charges in court.

The DCPO chief had ordered a full alert status in the city and that his men have doubled their efforts in maintaining peace and order, especially with the culmination of the Kadayawan festivities.

Policemen intensified their security measures all over the city by setting up 24-hour check-points and patrolling the streets day it and day out.

"I deemed it necessary to declare full alert status," dela Rosa said, adding that for the DCPO alone, there are around 1,200 men who are trying to secure the city.

The number does not include the augmentation from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Davao region headquarters and Task Force Davao (TFD).

Dela Rosa also took time to remind the public to be vigilant against other criminalities such as burglary, theft, and robbery which may happen anytime during the Kadayawan revelry.

"So far, we have not yet monitored any threats here in Davao, which is good for all of us. If ever there will be a threat, the City Government officials will be the one to inform the public," dela Rosa said.

He said there will be around 3,000 police and military personnel, including civilian volunteers to be deployed during the culminating activities of Kadayawan.