DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte has decided to let her city’s chief of police stay in his post.
In a statement sent through the City Information Office, Duterte said she decided to take back her earlier decision to sack Sr. Supt. Michael John Dubria.
Dubria was the chief of police when the deadly Roxas Night Market blast happened last September.
The mayor earlier wanted the relief of Dubria’s services as director of DCPO following the September 2 blast that killed 15 people and wounded 69 others.
The relief was delayed because of the failure of the Philippine National Police headquarters to immediately come up with a list of possible officials to replace Dubria.
On Thursday, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa submitted to Mayor Duterte a list of possible successor to Dubria.
Those being considered to replace Dubria were Senior Supt. Antonino Yarra, Senior Supt. Albert Ocon and Senior Supt. Milo Pagtalunan.
“It will be easy for him to transfer to another post and forget what happened the night of September 2, 2016 in Davao City. But, after careful thought, I want him to stay and feel the pain I feel every day. A new City Director would not understand this feeling,” said Duterte.
Mayor Duterte has earlier admitted that she had a disagreement with her father, President Duterte over the relief of Dubria and the former chief of Task Force Davao, Col. Henry Robinson Jr.
While Robinson graciously accepted his relief from TF Davao, Dubria held on to his post.
“I don’t want him to forget,” said Duterte. “I want him to learn from it. What I want is that he will function as director of the DCPO guided by the lessons of that terror attack.” (Yas D. Ocampo)