DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio appointed on Monday a retired military officer as the chief of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC).

Duterte-Carpio announced the appointment of retired General Benito de Leon, after the flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, three days after a bomb exploded at the Davao night market on Friday that left 14 dead and 67 others injured.

Before de Leon's entry, the PSSCC was headed by Emmanuel Jaldon, who is also the chief of Central 911.

De Leon said he was approached by the mayor to help secure Davao City from lawless elements.

“I am here to help (secure Davao),” he said.

De Leon said as the new PSSCC chief, he will help strengthen the coordination of all security forces in the metropolis.

He added that he will first conduct an inventory of ongoing projects of the PSSCC implemented by his predecessor.

“I will assess what are the concerns that need priorities and urgent actions," he said. “I will take off from there."

De Leon, who is from Tuguegarao, Cagayan, is a member of PMA Class 1981.

He is a former chief of staff of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division in Davao City and Commander of Task Force General Santos. He retired from military service in March 2016.

De Leon appealed for public cooperation to help the local government and law enforcers make Davao a safe place to live in. (PR)