The Philippine National Police (PNP) denied any political involvement in the dismissal of 60 personnel from the Davao Regional Police Office.
According to PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Jean Fajardo, relieving police officers under investigation is a routine procedure.
She further noted that the timing of the reassignment just coincided with the intensifying political tensions involving former Davao City Mayor and current Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, Fajardo confirmed in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday that the personnel removed from duty were involved in a double blotter case, with most of them having served as Station Commanders and Chiefs of Police in Region 11.
“Wala pong kinalaman ito sa pulitika. Good thing na nandito si Gen. Torre because ‘yung more than 60 plus na na-reassign ay dumaan po ito sa proseso. In fact, ‘yung kanilang request for reassignment is during the time pa ni Gen. Torre when he was still the Regional Director of PRO-11," said Fajardo.
"Some of them, particularly the Police Commission Officer who served as Station Commanders, Chief of Police, and some investigator na na-involve doon sa na-discover ni Gen. Torre upon his assumption na nagmamaintain po ng double blotter," she added.
Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director PBGen. Nicolas Torre III explained that the double blotter pertains to the alleged concealment by Davao police of the actual crime figures in the area.
