DAVAO City—Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has changed her heart on the relief of Davao City Police Office Director Sr. Supt. Michael John Dubria.
Duterte said she had reconsidered the transfer of Dubria to another post and wanted him to feel the pain she felt every single day, due to the Sept. 2 bombing in this city which killed 15 people and wounded at least 70 others.
“I have reconsidered my earlier decision, I now want him to stay,” she said.
On Thursday, PNP Director Ronald dela Rosa submitted a short list of the possible new DCPO directors from which the mayor may choose the replacement of Dubria whom she earlier requested relieved from his post.
Considered to replace him were Sr. Supt. Antonio Yarra, Sr. Supt. Albert Ocon and Sr. Supt. Milo Pagtalunan.
But Duterte suddenly changed her heart and disregarded her earlier decision to let Dubria go.
“It will be easy for him to transfer to another post and forget what happened the night of Sept. 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,” she said.
Dubria’s relief was delayed because Dela Rosa failed to immediately submit the list for Dubria’s possible replacement.
The mayor said it is right that Dubria be reminded always of the terror attack that struck the city and how the victims and their families suffered with their loss because of complacency.
“I don’t want him to forget,” she said.
“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.”
Following the bomb explosionm, Duterte immediately announced the relief of Task Force Davao commander Col. Henry Robinson and Dubria.
The military immediately granted the mayor’s request, sending Col. Erwin Neri to replace Robinson less than a week after the bombing.
It was different though from the side of the PNP.
The mayor admitted she had a disagreement with her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, in replacing Dubria and Robinson, but the latter obliged with his daughter’s decision and started singing “how do I live without you.”