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Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Photo by Simeon Celi, Presidential photo/File

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Baste

Hernel Tocmo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1716878388244171142236165720220627-duterte-baste-oathtaking-MNIB-8.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. <em>Photo by Simeon Celi, Presidential photo/File</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>DAVAO CITY — <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Davao City Mayor Sebastian &quot;Baste&quot; Duterte on Monday</span> defended the city&#x27;s anti-illegal drugs campaign after the deaths of seven alleged drug suspects led to the sacking of 35 policemen.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/3/26/5-dead-after-mayor-baste-declares-war-on-drugs-in-davao-city-1022">• 7 dead after Mayor Baste declares &#x27;war on drugs&#x27; in Davao City</a></div><p>&quot;Declaring war on drugs is not a bad thing. It is an essential effort to protect our communities from the scourge of illegal drugs, which wreak havoc on the lives of many,&quot; he said.</p><p>The Marcos administration has been trying to draw a contrast with the bloody drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte, <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/16/-walang-namatay-marcos-touts-bloodless-drug-war-after-historic-drug-bust-1224">saying it is focused on going after large drug hauls</a>.</p><p>Mayor Duterte, son of the former president, said the Davao City police force has been unwavering in the battle against illegal drugs.</p><p>Duterte also said he would like the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or even President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to explain the relief of 35 police personnel of the <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Davao City Police Office (DCPO) pending investigation. </span></p><div><span id="isPasted"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/5/25/35-davao-city-cops-relieved-from-posts-over-death-of-7-drug-suspects-1824">• 35 Davao City cops relieved from posts over death of 7 drug suspects</a></span></div><p>The relief is meant to help an investigation into the operations that resulted in deaths, according to Police Regional Office 11.</p><p>Mayor Duterte said they cannot ignore the possibility that the relief of the police officers, which he condemned, may be politically motivated.</p><p>Police Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez, regional police director, said the recent relief of Davao City Police Office personnel, which was based on the recommendation of the Regional Internal Affairs Service 11 (RIAS 11), was not taken lightly as it went thorough deliberation and profound consideration of all facts.</p><p>Martinez also said that this is in accordance with the observance of due process to ensure transparency and accountability of public officers.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/5/23/davao-police-chief-relieved-from-post-amid-probe-on-recent-drug-war-deaths-1419">• Davao police chief relieved from post amid probe on recent drug war deaths</a></div><p>&quot;The PRO 11 and PNP Internal Affairs Service through their regional office assure the public that the conduct of investigation shall be done justly and fairly. Upon conclusion of the investigation and the finding of non-culpability, this PRO may among others, reinstate them to their previous designations,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>But the mayor still questioned such actions of the PRO 11, asking why the measure is necessary when other regions have addressed similar situations with more targeted investigations.</p><p>&quot;In those instances, only the commanding officers or those immediately involved in the incidents were scrutinized, allowing the rest of the personnel to continue their duties uninterrupted. Why is a different standard being applied in Davao City?&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;The action taken by PRO 11 is extraordinary. Typically, when there are issues like this, they question the one in charge rather than relieving a large number of personnel—the lack of sufficient preliminary investigation before this mass relief is concerning,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bc73daxngjo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte on Monday defended the city's anti-illegal drugs campaign.</p>

Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte on Monday defended the city's anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Baste Duterte questions relief of Davao cops over bloody anti-drug operations

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Baste Duterte questions relief of Davao cops over bloody anti-drug operations

Hernel Tocmo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 28, 2024 03:11 PM PHT

|

Updated May 28, 2024 04:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Davao

Davao City

war on drugs

mass relief

police force

Davao City Police

Sebastian Duterte

PNP

ANC

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