THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) expressed its firm commitment to support the internal cleansing drive in all ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), citing that there are no scalawag cops in the city.
DCPO City Director Michael John Dubria assured the law enforcers are disciplined to not get involved in illegal activities similar to the kidnap-slay of the South Korean businessman.
He issued the statement amid criticisms against the PNP's controversial anti-narcotics drive.
“I am confident, the police in Davao City are intelligent enough to know where they must position themselves either within the legal limits or outside the bounds of the limits,” he said.
As part of the cleansing effort of the PNP, Dubria said they would strengthen their counter-intelligence efforts in monitoring rogue cops involved in illegal activities or irregularities.
He said DCPO has six police officers who are subject for relief following their alleged questionable low performance with the campaign against illegal drugs dubbed as “Oplan Double Barrel.”
Dubria refused to divulge the identity of the cops since it is still under investigation.
“There are some police officers from Davao City that were supposed to be relieved aside from other police station commanders of other provinces,” he confirmed.
According to the DCPO city director, Police Regional Office Regional Director Manuel Gaerlan said they held the relief in abeyance as verification process is ongoing.
Dubria said although DCPO personnel will least likely get involved in illegal activities, they will give full sanction under the law once they receive reports against any cop.
“We will make sure that he will be discharge from the service without any benefit that can be granted to them,” he warned.
Dubria added with the new PNP directives, they will shift their focus and strengthen their assigned duties with the addition of the manpower from the anti-illegal drug group which was earlier suspended.
“Davao City is challenged because of so many events in Davao City marami po tayong mga (we have several) tasking, meaning it is not only drugs that we are focusing on,” he said.
Gaerlan, said there are police officials in the region who are currently undergoing summary dismissal proceedings following the illegal activities that they have involved in.
He vowed they will expedite the case proceedings to eliminate rogue cops in the ranks of the PNP and boost their morale.
“We do not want criminal elements masquerading as police officers at ginagamit lang nila ang pagkapulis nila (and they are just using their authority as policemen) for their personal interest,” Gaerlan said.