“The police can stand on their own. They need fuel? That’s already allocated in their own budget,” the mayor said.Uy said he only heard about the plan to replace Bernardo on Wednesday but was not formally informed about it by the Davao PRO.
“Why replace him when he is doing good?” Uy asked during an interview by a local news outlet on Sunday. Uy noted that Bernardo, who assumed his post in the city only on March 3, had not only led several big-time buy-bust operations in this capital city of Davao del Norte but had also worked closely with village officials to address their safety needs.Uy said he tried but failed to stop the relief of Bernardo through Councilor Meliton Lemos, a former police officer. But although Lemos succeeded in asking Davao del Norte provincial police chief Col. Antonio Alberio Jr.
“But the order can be recalled. There have been many instances in which orders of turnover [of command] were recalled,” Uy said. Since it appeared that the higher police command “disrespected and bypassed” his office, Uy said he would cut the city government’s support to the local police.Aside from the vehicles, which were already moved to the city motor pool over the weekend, the city government had also given fuel and rice subsidies to the city police. It also assigned city-paid personnel as additional staff of the local police, the mayor said.