26-11-2024 (MANILA) Sixty-five police officials from Davao City Police Office (DCPO) have received unexpected transfer orders to positions outside Mindanao, fuelling speculation about growing tensions between the current administration and former president Rodrigo Duterte’s camp.
The sweeping reassignment directive, authorised by Philippine National Police Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil and executed through Police Major General Alan Okubo, marks the third major personnel shuffle affecting DCPO this year, following similar movements in May and July.
“I was completely blindsided by this decision,” revealed one affected officer, speaking anonymously. “The timing and manner of implementation have left many of us questioning the underlying motives.”
The transferred officers face deployment across four distant regions: Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, with official documentation providing no explicit justification for the widespread relocation.
Security analysts suggest the reshuffle could significantly impact Davao City’s law enforcement capabilities, potentially disrupting the established security framework that has been a hallmark of the city’s governance since Duterte’s mayoral tenure.
“These transfers risk undermining operational continuity and institutional knowledge,” noted a retired senior police official. “Such dramatic changes could compromise the effectiveness of local law enforcement strategies.”
The timing of these transfers has particular significance given the approaching holiday season, with numerous families facing unexpected separation. “The human cost of these administrative decisions is substantial,” shared a family member of an affected officer. “Christmas will be particularly difficult this year.”
Political observers note that Davao City, long considered Duterte’s power base, may see its police force’s effectiveness challenged by these personnel changes. However, some analysts suggest the transfers could have unintended consequences.
“Rather than diminishing Duterte’s influence, this could actually spread his policing philosophy across the country,” suggested a prominent political analyst. “These officers carry with them years of experience under Davao’s renowned law enforcement model.”
The reassignments come amid escalating political tension between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration and the Duterte camp, though no official connection has been drawn between these events.
This development represents the latest chapter in an increasingly complex political narrative, with implications extending beyond mere administrative reorganisation to touch upon broader questions of governance, political influence, and institutional independence.
The PNP leadership has yet to provide detailed explanations for these transfers, while affected officers and their families continue to grapple with the practical and emotional challenges of sudden relocation.
