DAVAO CITY — Police XI Regional Director Brigadier General Alden B. Delvo described the death of seven (7) suspected illegal drugs dealers in three days as “unusual.”
“Murag unusual man gud nga Sunod-sunod ang patay, kada operate patay, kada operate mosukol? Although dili imposible nga magitabo, that is why we need to investigate it haron ang atong mga police walay mabuhat nga infractions against our Police Oprrational Procedures and against violations of Human Rights. ( Seems, Unusual! ,successive killings, in every operation death, in every operation (the suspect) fought back), ” Delvo told Newsline in a phone interview.
While Delvo shared the effort of the PNP in the relentless pursuit of a drug free Davao region “All operations must be done in accordance with Police Operational Procedures of the PNP and it should be done properly.” But he said the 7 deaths in Police Operations is unusual.
However, the regional director emphasized “If the Police reports are all true that the lives of the operating units were at risk, then by all means my men should defend themselves in an armed encounter but any infractions against human rights in Police operations should warrant also summary proceedings because nobody is above the law, we need to uphold it-we are law enforcers.”
Evidence of a regular police operations
As he finds it unusual, Delvo said “I will be taking cognizant on that but they must submit the documents 1.) Body-worn camera during the actual operation; 2.) pre-operations plan and; 3.) Witnesses such as Barangay Captains, barangay Councilors who witnessed the operations, if indeed nisukol (If indeed the suspects resisted) by all means I will believe that the operations were legal,”
The DCPO, according to Delvo, is required to submit the documents and evidences to the regional command and the same will be forwarded to the RIAS (Regional Internal Affairs Service).
The Regional Command needs to know if all police operations based on police operational procedures.
The RIAS, Delvo said, will conduct “A motu propio investigation and whatever their recommendation, it will be submitted to Camp Crame,” he added.
The police must follow the operation procedure in all their operations.
“The relief of the seven (7) policemen is procedural to pave the way for the investigation,” the official added.
On Wednesday, Camp Crame revealed that the seven police personnel have been relieved from their posts due to the killings.
It is surprising however, that until now, no family member of those who died during the operations came out to cry for justice.
Reading the series of killings in the city, many social media users seemed to have “Welcomed” their death saying the drugs problems has resurged and something must be done to same the children of the city.
