Davao City police named RP’s finest

DAVAO CITY — Despite the unsolved vigilante killings here, the city police still managed to be adjudged as the country’s best in the annual citations of the Philippine National Police.

The city police bested the police commands of the cities of General Santos, Baguio, Bacolod and Tacloban.

The award, to be handed out in ceremonies at Camp Crame this Friday, is the third for the city police which also bagged it in 1997 and 1999.

Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapeña, Southern Mindanao police director, cited the performance of the city’s 2,000 policemen under Senior Superintendent Conrado Laza, who he said have done fairly well in both administrative and operational aspects.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also commended the city police, saying their performance has helped ensure a stable peace and order situation in this southern metropolis.

"I know they have done their best with whatever resources we have to augment their operations. I will always extend my full support to the police force," he said.

Lapeña said the city government’s strong support for the police force was a big factor in winning the award.

Last year, Duterte activated the 911 Emergency Response System patterned after the United States’, which has been helping the police promptly respond to calls for assistance.

The city government also purchased at least 40 Toyota FX vehicles, complete with communications equipment, for the use of the city police.

The city’s 2,000 law enfor—cers are said to be the most pampered in the country, with each of them receiving a sack of rice and grocery items from the city government every month.