POLICE Regional Office XI director, Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, said on Tuesday that he is awaiting an explanation from the 100 police officers relieved from all 19 Davao City Police Office stations due to alleged manipulation of police blotters.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas briefing at Camp Quintin Merecido headquarters, Torre told reporters, “I don’t know the exact number, but we have seen a problem in the recording of blotters.”
He emphasized that the first step in the administrative case is a pre-charge investigation, allowing the concerned officers to explain their side.
“Depending on their explanation, if I am satisfied that they won’t do it again, we will teach them. But if needed, we will proceed to a more in-depth investigation, a summary hearing to determine the gravity of their culpability. But we are not there yet,” Torre said.
He further explained, “I am still at the explanation stage, giving them a chance because that’s due process.”
The director initiated a “blotter validation” process upon assuming office, uncovering discrepancies that hinder effective law enforcement by preventing accurate crime trend analysis.
The scandal has resulted in mass relief of police station commanders and frequent changes in DCPO leadership.
” In our blotter validation, we found many discrepancies, errors, unrecorded incidents, and some we suspect were intentionally hidden. You cannot accuse someone without giving them a chance to explain,” he added.
The regional police director outlined the process: “We gave them an individual order to explain, ‘please explain this,’ and gave them 72 hours. After we get their explanation, we will decide what to do. But I prefer this to be a teaching and learning experience.”
Torre concluded, “Explanation, then pre-charge investigation, then summary hearing proceedings.
” Part of our job is to teach these young officers because they might have been left behind by the times, not exposed to new guidelines and technologies, and are only focused on traditional police work,” he further said.
On Sunday, Mayor Sebastian Duterte called upon lawyers to step up and defend the officers while strongly criticizing regional director Brig Gen Nicolas Torre III for his handling of the situation.
During the Basta Dabawenyo Program on Sunday, Aug. 4, the mayor questioned the motives behind the manipulation, stating, “I don’t understand them, the entire administration…they haven’t provided a clear explanation or justification of what they are doing to the city right now.”
“Kung kana man ang ginabuhat sa pulis ambot lagi wala ko kasabot anang Torre (If that’s what they are doing to the police, I really don’t understand that Torre),” the mayor said.
He encouraged lawyers to step forward and assist the officers facing charges, emphasizing the importance of their support.
“If you’re a lawyer and want to help our city and the police who serve us, please come forward,” the mayor urged. “We are grateful for your support.”
While acknowledging that the police force is not perfect, the mayor defended their dedication and service to the city.
Duterte then praised the police force, emphasizing their dedication and service. He acknowledged that while not perfect, they are generally good and committed to the well-being of the city.
“I don’t understand them, the entire administration, I don’t understand their frame of mind because they haven’t provided a clear explanation or justification of what they are doing to the city right now,” he further said.
Recently, Brig. Gen. Torre III revealed the extent of the manipulation, showing reporters two “blue blotter” books from the Calinan Police Station with numerous entries misclassified or marked as “for record only” to avoid being included in crime statistics.
He asserted that this practice is “literally half-truth” and distorts the true crime situation in the city.
Torre initiated a “blotter validation” process after assuming office and uncovered the discrepancies.
The regional director added that the “blotter validation,” a regular mechanism employed by the Philippine National Police to verify reported cases, was conducted by subordinates that he brought to Davao with him from his previous deployment in Metro Manila to prevent any potential cover-up.
He stated that the manipulation hinders effective law enforcement as it prevents accurate assessment and response to crime trends.
The controversy has led to a mass relief of police station commanders and frequent changes in DCPO leadership.
Mayor Duterte previously criticized the mass relief, stating that it undermines the hard work of police officials and jeopardizes the city’s peace and security.
