22-07-2025
Duterte backs new DCPO chief despite getting left out of selection process
Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte will support the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) even if he was not consulted in the selection of the new city police director.
Duterte reiterated that he was not given the opportunity to choose from a shortlist of candidates for the city police director position, a process supposedly granted to local chief executives under the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 (RA 8551).
Under Section 64 of the said law, mayors are deputized as representatives of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) within their jurisdictions.
'They won't allow me to choose the city director… nangyari na nga yan last year when I was mayor… the last term when I was mayor,' Duterte said.
'Masyado silang praning… they are scared maybe because these policemen who will be assigned here mga loyalista sa amin and they would not like you know, do dirty work for them,' he added.
Despite this, Duterte said he will support the new acting director of DCPO, Col. Mannan Muarip, and his plans for the peace and order in the city, which were discussed during a courtesy call on Monday, July 21, 2025.
DCPO has yet to issue a statement regarding Duterte's statements, as of this writing.
However, Muarip said earlier that strong cooperation and unity between the local government and the police play an important role in maintaining peace and security in the city.
