YEAR 2024 saw the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) rising up above the challenge amid the political turmoil brought about by the soured relationship between the Marcos Jr. administration and the Dutertes who have ruled the city with an iron-fist over the past 20 years.

Last July, the city experienced a first in its fabled history as three DCPO chiefs were designated in just one day, replacing one after another.

Nineteen station commanders in the city were also replaced on the same month in what the Philippine National Police leadership described as a “normal process” in the organization.

Finally, last July 10, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil designated a veteran police operator named Colonel Hansel M. Marantan of PNP Academy ‘Kabalikat’ Class of 1998 as new Davao City police chief to put order in the local police force amid the hunt for then fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.

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.’

Torre eventually was named as director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and was replaced as PRO11 director by Brig. Gen. Leon Victor Z. Rosete.

From August 24 to September 8, or for 2 weeks and 1 day, the DCPO guarded the sprawling KOJC 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 from the local government as well as protests from former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The standoff finally ended on Sept. 8 as Quiboloy and his five associates wanted for child abuse and trafficking were forced to emerge from their hiding place inside the KOJC compound and were promptly placed under arrest by the police. The rest as they say is history.

From July 10 to December 30, 2024, the DCPO achieved significant milestones in its anti-criminality campaign and crime prevention activities as it demonstrated its unwavering commitment to public safety and security.

Those achievements reflect Col. Marantan’s strategic leadership and commitment to public service along with all the men and women of the Davao City police office.

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.

As part of its effort to ensure the safety and security of residents of Davao City and visitors alike, the DCPO over the past five months conducted 611 positive anti-narcotics operations which resulted in the arrest of 96 High-Value Individuals and 700 Street-Level Individuals and the seizure of 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 campaign against illegal gambling during the period which led in 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; the arrest of ‘high-value target’ Rolly Roy Balasabas alias ‘Brad,’ the Top 1 City Level Drug Personality 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 the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P6.616 million following an anti-drug operation triggered by information from a jailed lawbreaker identified as Jose Ramilito Granados.

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.

At the same time, it fully secured 168 key government officials and 73 diplomats/ambassadors who visited the city kept order as Davao officials hosted 2,664 major and minor events.

The generally peaceful situation in the city was also attributed to the conduct of nearly 415,000 pro-active DCPO operations such as checkpoints, police visibility, community outreach, tourist protection, bike and motorcycle patrols and prophylactic and riverine patrols.

It also issued 48,390 Temporary Operator’s Permit and citation tickets to erring motorists and impounded 36 motor vehicles involved in various law violations.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon