- Col. Patay to lead Davao City Police Office amid ongoing drug war probe
COLONEL Lito Patay will take the reins of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) starting Monday, July 8, as he grapples with two weighty issues—the PNP’s probe into the drug war and the suspension of 35 officers.
Police Regional Office XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey said Patay replaces Colonel Rolindo Suguilon, who assumed temporary leadership on May 23 following the removal of Colonel Richard Bad-ang and 34 other officers.
The police officers were placed on administrative leave to ensure they would not influence the ongoing investigation into a deadly drug war that resulted in seven deaths.
Details on the turnover ceremony remain unconfirmed, according to Dela Rey.
Patay brings extensive experience to the position, having served as chief of the Quezon City Police District during the Duterte administration and later as director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in both Central Visayas and Luzon.
His tenure in Luzon notably included a successful 2019 raid on an online gambling operation in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu, leading to the arrest of 181 Chinese nationals. Patay also led the Tagum City Police Office in Davao del Norte as its commander from July 2015 to July 2016.
