Explain relief of 35 Davao City cops – council

MANILA, Philippines —  The Davao City council has sought an explanation from the regional police office on the relief of city police chief Col. Richard Bad-ang and 34 other police officers.

“We will invite the regional director or his representative to provide... an explanation as to why such a huge number of our personnel have been relieved at this time,” Councilor and peace and public safety committee chairperson Luna Maria Dominique Acosta said during the council’s regular session yesterday.

Acosta said the director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government would also be invited to the next regular session of the city council to shed light on the situation.

City councilors urged the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) to ensure prompt and unbiased resolution of its investigation.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has defended the relief of the police officers, saying it would pave  the way for an impartial inquiry into drug-related killings in the city and does not automatically indicate culpability.

The PNP said the relief was based on a recommendation of the RIAS of the Davao region police following a motu proprio investigation on seven drug-related killings after Mayor Sebastian Duterte declared a new war on drugs.

Also during its regular session, the city council passed a resolution supporting the statement of Duterte questioning the relief of the police officers and calling for their reinstatement.

The resolution echoed Duterte’s call for accountability and transparency in handling the case of the police officers.