Davao City cops rise above challenges in ’24
THE policemen of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) were able to emerge against the currents amidst the political turmoil in the city brought by the soured relationship between the Marcos administration and the Dutertes.
Three DCPO chiefs were designated in just one day in the city that started in July 2024.
Nineteen station commanders in the city were also replaced in the same month.
Finally, last July 10, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil designated Colonel Hansel Marantan as new Davao City police chief.
Under the supervision of then Police Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III, the DCPO played a major role in the operation to get the self-proclaimed ‘Anointed Son of God’ Pastor Apollo Torion Quiboloy.
Torre eventually was named as director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The DCPO guarded the sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound while trying its best to keep peace and order in the city amid protests from unruly members of the KOJC and other Quiboloy supporters.
The standoff finally ended on Sept. 8 as Quiboloy and his five associates wanted for child abuse and trafficking were forced to emerge from the KOJC compound and were promptly placed under arrest.
From July 10 to December 30, 2024, the DCPO achieved significant milestones in its anti-criminality campaign and crime prevention activities.
During the same period, the DCPO recorded 465 incidents of Eight Focus Crimes and said that theft, robbery, rape and physical injury were the most prevalent.
Its Crime Solution Efficiency reached 74 percent while its Crime Clearance Efficiency was placed at 100 percent.
As explained by the DCPO, suspects in 344 crime incidents or 74 percent of the total recorded Eight Focus Crimes were arrested and charged in court while the suspects in the remaining 121 Eight Focuses Crimes have been identified with criminal cases filed against them in court.
In general, all suspects/offenders of 465 crime incidents recorded in the city have been identified and charged before the city prosecutor’s office or court for a 100 percent Crime Clearance Efficiency.
The DCPO over the past five months conducted 611 positive anti-narcotics operations which resulted in the arrest of 96 drug suspects and 700 other street-level thugs.
The DCPO also seized nearly 4.250 kilograms of shabu and around 18.5 kilos of dried marijuana leaves worth at least P31.1 million.
It also conducted 117 campaigns against illegal gambling during the period which led to the arrest of 226 individuals.
The DCPO also captured 91 Top Ten Most Wanted Persons, 188 Most Wanted Persons and 677 Other Wanted Persons since August.
Its breakthrough accomplishments during the period include the arrest of Quiboloy, Rolly Roy Balasabas alias Brad, who yielded nearly 49 grams of shabu, some 4.420 kilos of marijuana, 14 Ecstasy tablets and a bottle containing 9.5ml of marijuana oil worth around P888,000; and the recovery of 973 grams of shabu valued at P6.616 million.
Its drive against loose firearms likewise netted 55 suspects who were found in possession of 58 illegal guns.
Another 66 firearms and 31 explosives were also accounted for by the DCPO amid its campaign against illegal guns and explosives.
The city police also visited 4,388 local residences in support of the PNP’s Revitalized Oplan: Katok which aims to convince licensed gun-holders to renew their expired permits.
The measure saw 193 gun-owners renewing their License to Own and Possess Firearms and Firearm Registration while another 236 are still under processing.
A total of 151 individuals also deposited their firearms to the local police pending the renewal of their papers. Since last August, the DCPO actually inspected 3,660 firearms in possession of their registered owners.
The DCPO also recorded ‘zero-incident’ in major events in the city including the 39th Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival from August 1 to 30; the Ironman 70.3 event from August 9-11; the Mindanao Development Authority Caravan of Service from September 3 to 7; and the Bar Examinations on September 8, 11 and 15.
