Outgoing Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Col. Alexander Tagum will temporarily stay on his post while waiting for his replacement.
Tagum’s term ended three months ago but his duty was extended following the request of Mayor Sara Duterte until July 3 due to the election period.
In an interview yesterday, Tagum said he is still awaiting order from the
national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“Wala pa (nothing yet)… status quo pending orders from the General Headquarters,” he said.
Tagum said he still has no information who will replace him as the city director.
He assumed his post as DCPO chief on April 3, 2017 after he was chosen by Mayor Duterte among the contenders presented by the PNP leadership. His appointment as DCPO chief came a year after he was relieved as the police provincial director of North Cotabato following the 2016 April Fool Day’s bloody dispersal of farmers barricading along the Davao-Cotabato Road in Kidapawan, North Cotabato that left three farmers dead and injury to 116 others. Upon his assumption of office, he was greeted with protest by militant groups here.
A month in his post, Tagum launched Oplan Iron City (Oplan Integrated Revitalized Operation of Neighborhood-Watch for the Mega City) that upgraded the city’s police integrated patrol system aimed at making this city safer through the active support of empowered volunteer police auxiliaries.
Under Oplan Iron City, close to a thousand auxiliary police officers were hired by the City Hall to assist the DCPO.
He also launched Oplan Bulabog that later became Oplan Kalinaw.
In its weekly Oplan Kalinaw, the DCPO arrested thousand of fugitives hiding in the city’s community, aside from background checking transient residents.
He also introduced Oplan RATS, a drive against Robbers, Akyat Bahay, Thieves and Snatchers.
Tagum also proposed to expand the DCPO into a district district to augment the number of police personnel and to have more police stations.
Police Regional Office Director Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales described Tagum’s performance as “excellent.”
“He was able to rise up to the challenges,” Morales said. “The DCPO was not a failure under the leadership of Col. Tagum, ” he added.
