A LAWMAKER on Tuesday demanded an explanation from the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI over inconsistencies in the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief appointment.
“Why do we allow the rule of law to be perverted and taken advantage of in exchange for Davao City’s Peace and Public Safety? This is a call for the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI to explain. Make it make sense,” Councilor Luna Acosta, in her privilege speech on Tuesday.
On July 8, DCPO appointed PCol. Lito Patay the 18th city director. However, while holding the first command conference he received a call effectively relieving him from his post after three hours, one of the shortest terms in the city’s history.
Meanwhile, PCol. Sherwin Butil was about to take Patay’s role when he was informed that the PRO XI designated PCol. Hansel Marantan instead as the new DCPO acting city director.
“It is normal indeed for this circumstance to draw confusion as no written or verbal notice was provided in the change and selection process of the said position,” Acosta stressed.
Acosta said the changes violated the rule of law on the appointment of the chief of police as stated in the Republic Act No. 6975, or the “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990”, as amended by Republic Act No. 8551, or “Philippine National Police (PNP) Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998”.
R.A. 8551 grants the city mayor the “authority to choose the Chief of Police from a list of five (5) eligibles recommended by the PNP Regional Director, preferably from the same province, city or municipality.”
Acosta revealed that Patay was the mayor’s pick while Butil was on the shortlist. She added that Marantan is not from the city or Davao region, not the choice of the mayor, nor was he included in the list.
The councilor also said the appointment could compromise the safety of the visiting public as the celebration of the 39th Kadayawan Festival is drawing near.
Marantan’s appointment, Acosta said is only an acting capacity, as provided in RA 8551 that in no case shall an Officer-In-Charge be designated for more than 30 days.
“Considering that the process for the appointment of the current Chief of Police is not based on the national law and that his appointment is in “Acting Capacity”, would it mean that a change in the appointment of DCPO Chief of Police will occur after the passing of more or less thirty (30) days?” she said.
Acosta passed a resolution urging the PRO XI regional director Police Brigadier General Nicolas D. Torre III, DCPO Acting city director Pcol. Hansel Marantan and Department of the Interior and Local Government (CDILG) Davao city director Vicky Sarcena to explain.
Torre, Marantan, and the city DILG are requested to appear in the next regular session.
Councilor Conrado Baluran manifested the copy of the resolution to be furnished to the Camp Crame- PNP Headquarters and invited a representative to shed light on the matter.
Acosta told reporters after the session, that the city government maintains to have good working relationship with the PRO XI.
“I would like to think that we have a good working relationship with our PNP, we are doing our best in the city council to reach out to them, kung sila ang ayaw pumunta dito, wala tayong magagawa,” she said.
The councilor added in the case they will not appear in the city council, at least they pay a courtesy call to the city mayor.
