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6 cops relieved

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Drug suspect escapes from DCPO cell

AUTHORITIES launched a manhunt after a high-profile drug suspect escaped from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) custodial facility at Camp Domingo Leonor in the early hours of Thursday, Feb. 5.

In the aftermath of the incident, DCPO acting director Col. Mannan Muarip ordered the relief of six police officers, including the chief of the City Investigation and Management Unit (CIMU) and three jail guards.

The escapee was identified as Alfred Ismael Magallanes Matute, 34, a resident of Deca Homes, Mintal. Matute was listed as the top four city-level high-value individual.

He was arrested on Dec. 21, 2025, for the sale and possession of illegal drugs under sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165.

According to Muarip, the escape occurred at dawn on Feb. 5, but was only discovered at 7:15 a.m. during a prisoner count.

“It was discovered during the inspection conducted by the duty officer of the day. Upon review of the CCTV, we saw the escape happened around 2 a.m.,” Muarip said.

CCTV footage revealed that Matute hid in a blind spot of the cell to evade the guards’ notice. He then climbed to the second floor, used the stairs, and exited through an area currently under construction.

“There is construction in the area with temporary tarpaulins. He passed through there. If he had passed through the main entrance, he would have been noticed by the camp’s security detail,” Muarip explained.

Muarip admitted that the facility had structural weaknesses that the suspect exploited. “A determined person can climb from the ground to the second floor. I have already ordered an appropriate design to strengthen the structure, and materials are being purchased to finish the improvements within the week,” he added.

Administrative fallout and investigation

The six personnel relieved and placed in the DCPO holding center are:

  1. Three custodial duty personnel (jail guards)
  2. The officer of the day
  3. The senior duty officer
  4. The chief of the Investigation and Detection Management Unit

“We are conducting a thorough investigation. We have formed a Special Escapee Detainee Investigation Team led by the deputy city director for operations,” Muarip said. He also hinted at potential collusion, stating that they are looking into one detention personnel who may have been an “instrument” or “consented” to the escape.

“To Alfred Magallanes Ismael Matute, it is better for you to surrender to the nearest police station. I encourage your relatives to convince you to come in. Nothing bad will happen if you surrender, but the manhunt continues. If you resist arrest, we cannot guarantee your safety,” Muarip stated.

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News

Girl rescued 

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Pasay resident allegedly mauled by Chinese National in Davao hotel

A 21-YEAR-OLD girl was rescued by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Tourist Police on Wednesday morning, Feb. 4, after she was allegedly mauled by her boyfriend, a Chinese national, inside a local hotel.

The victim, 21, a resident of Pasay City, narrated that they traveled to Davao City, specifically for her boyfriend to obtain a fraudulent identification card.

Accordingly, the lady tourist police saw her shaking in fear at the hotel’s lobby and immediately asked her what was wrong, and that was when she recounted what happened.

In an interview with the media, she claimed this was not the first time she had been physically abused. She further alleged that the suspect is a “POGO boss,” who already had the fake ID in his possession. 

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get the fictitious name, which would have made it easier for authorities to flag him at the airport. 

“We were fighting because there was a girl, then I just asked him. Suddenly, he got angry and started to hurt me. He had done this to me before in Manila, in Pasay. There are pictures [of me] with bruises on me,” she said in Tagalog.

“[He] was my boyfriend for six months,” she added.

The victim was reportedly rescued once before. First, from a large shopping mall in the city on Tuesday, Feb. 3, during a physical argument with her boyfriend. following similar mauling incidents.

The victim has been turned over to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), while authorities are currently tracking the suspect’s whereabouts.

In a separate interview, Captain Hazel Caballero, spokesperson for the DCPO, reminded the public that the law protects victims of domestic and partner abuse.

“Let us remind everyone that the country has Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act. This carries a penalty of up to six years imprisonment for husbands, boyfriends, or live-in partners,” Caballero said. “Report immediately to the nearest police station or ask for help from people around you whenever you are being harmed.”

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CAFGU member stabbed to death by brother-in-law in Marilog

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

A GOVERNMENT militiaman was stabbed to death by his brother-in-law during a drinking session in Purok 5, Barangay Buda, on Sunday night, Feb. 1. 

Initial investigation by the Marilog Police Station (PS 12) revealed that the victim and the suspect were drinking inside the latter’s residence when a heated argument erupted at around 10:40 pm. 

Witnesses stated that as the conflict escalated, the victim attempted to flee the house but was chased down by the suspect, who stabbed him several times.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect, a resident of the same barangay, fled toward Barangay Salumay after the attack. However, a hot pursuit operation led by Police Major Bacera, station commander of PS12, resulted in the suspect’s arrest.

For now, the suspect is in police custody at Station 12, where he faces a charge of homicide or murder.

Photo courtesy of DCPO

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Construction firm supervisor wounded in Matina ‘riding-in-tandem’ shooting

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

A 49-YEAR-OLD department head is recovering in the hospital after being shot by unidentified assailants in broad daylight along MacArthur Highway, Matina, on Monday afternoon, Jan. 19.

The victim, identified only by the Davao City Police Office as Melfred, a resident of Cabantian and supervisor at BMQ Builders and Supply Corporation, was driving his red Hyundai Accent toward the downtown area at approximately 5:09 p.m. when attacked.

According to the Talomo Police Station report, the victim was at the corner of Pag-ibig Drive in front of Jev Inn when two individuals on a red XRM motorcycle pulled alongside his vehicle.

The back rider, described as wearing a white t-shirt and shorts with his face concealed by a dark cloth, reportedly fired thrice using a silver pistol before speeding off. Investigators recovered three spent shells at the scene.

Responding officers from Mobile Patrol 931 rushed the victim to the Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital before transferring him to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). The attending physician, Dr. Ma. Eleanor Guiani, declared the victim to be in stable condition.

Police said that a hot pursuit operation was launched immediately following the incident, although the suspects managed to evade arrest. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy of DCPO

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News

Unidentified gunmen shot Pakistani

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

A 29-YEAR-OLD Pakistani businessman was wounded in a shooting incident at Deca Homes, Phase 8-A, Barangay Tacunan, Tugbok District, on Friday afternoon, Jan. 9.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) identified the victim only as Afraz, a resident of Purok 14, Barangay Ula.

Initial investigations reveal that around 2:40 pm, the victim had just finished a visit to a barbershop. 

He was sitting in the driver’s seat of his parked vehicle when two unidentified men on a motorcycle stopped in front of him and opened fire thrice.

The victim told investigators that after the first shot was fired, he immediately dove toward the passenger side to seek cover.

 Despite his efforts, he sustained two gunshot wounds to his back and one to his left shoulder.

The suspects fled toward the direction of Barangay Ula. The victim, assisted by an employee, managed to drive his vehicle to the Adventist Hospital before being transferred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center for further treatment and observation.

Crime scene investigators recovered three .45 caliber spent shells at the scene. Police also noted that bullets shattered the vehicle’s left window and penetrated the back seat.

The DCPO is currently conducting an in-depth follow-up investigation to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive behind the attack.

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DC Bus runs over rider; erring van driver yields

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

A FATAL multi-vehicle collision on the Davao City Coastal Road bridge on the evening of Dec. 30 left one person dead, sparking a reminder from law enforcement regarding road safety.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) confirmed that the accident, which occurred at approximately 8:08 p.m., involved a van, a motorcycle, and a government-owned bus.

Initial investigation by the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) revealed that the van driver parked along a high-speed section of the coastal road—where stopping is strictly prohibited—and activated hazard lights without a valid emergency.

A motorcycle crashed into the van’s rear portion after the rider failed to avoid the vehicle. 

The impact caused the motorcycle to lose balance and crash into the inner lane. 

Tragically, the motorcycle’s back-rider was run over by a passing government bus and was declared dead on the spot due to severe head injuries.

Hit-and-run and surrender

The van driver initially fled the scene following the collision. However, the DCPO reported that the driver surrendered to authorities on Dec. 31.

While the vehicle and the driver are now in police custody, the DCPO clarified that the surrender does not clear the individual of legal consequences.

“The DCPO emphasizes that this [surrender] does not absolve the driver of criminal and civil liability arising from the incident,” the police statement read.

The DCPO also reminded motorists of the misuse of hazard lights. Police underscored that “hazard lights are NOT an excuse to stop on major roads,” particularly on high-speed thoroughfares like the coastal road.

“Negligence, recklessness, and disregard for traffic regulations cost lives,” the DCPO stated.

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News

Backtracking 

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Police secure CCTV on Bondi mass shooters in Davao City

AUTHORITIES are reviewing the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from a local hotel as the investigation intensifies into the alleged link between the two mass shooters of the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting and local terrorists.

In a video statement released on Sunday, Dec. 21, Brigadier General Leon Victor Rosete, Police Regional Office XI director, confirmed that the two suspects arrived in Davao City last November and stayed at the GV Hotel for nearly a month.

“The Police Regional Office XI took note of the information given by the Australian counter-terrorism experts regarding the identified suspects who were allegedly linked to the Islamic State and reported to have traveled to the Philippines,” he said, confirming that “the two individuals were in Davao city and stayed in GV hotel for almost a month before leaving the area.” 

“Upon confirmation, PRO XI immediately conducted backtracking operations to establish their movements during their stay,” he added. 

Australian counter-terrorism experts claimed that the father-and-son duo, Sajid and Naveed Akram, trained in the Philippines before they went on a shooting spree on the Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Sydney. 

The 50-year-old father was killed in a shootout, while the 24-year-old gunman was charged with 15 counts of murder, among others. He was critically injured but managed to survive.

Rosete said backtracking included the review of CCTV footage, hotel records, travel data, and other available intelligence operations. 

“These efforts were carried out in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the National Bureau of Investigation, and other intelligence units, and concerned agencies,” Rosete said.

“PRO XI also examined activities they may have conducted during their stay, including identifying the individuals they interacted with and assessing possible links, or support networks,” he added. 

“I assure the public that PRO XI remains steadfast in maintaining the peace and order of Davao Region,” the police director further said.

PRO XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey said that while no special investigation task group has been formed, there is a highly coordinated effort among various government and security agencies.

She said based on currently available intelligence, the suspects appeared to have remained within Davao City for the duration of their stay.

PHOTO CAPTION: Policemen guard a hotel in downtown Davao City on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, where the Bondi Beach shooters, according to hotel staff, stayed from Nov. 1 to 28, 2025. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

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Safe and sound

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Police dispel kidnapping rumors of missing minors 

THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) located three female minors who were reported missing on Saturday night, Dec. 13, in Purok 4, Barangay Mintal, Tugbok District, quickly dispelling initial kidnapping fears.

Col Mannan Caracas Muarip, acting DCPO chief, confirmed that the children were found safe and have been reunited with their families.

The incident began after the three kids failed to return home at the expected time, causing alarm among their parents and prompting a police investigation. According to multiple Facebook posts, five minors were reportedly forced into a black van, but one managed to escape. 

“Our investigation revealed that there was no kidnapping incident,” Muarip stated. “The minors were only accompanied for Christmas caroling by individuals unknown to them, which caused alarm when they did not return home at the expected time. They were not harmed, and no criminal act was committed against them.”

While commending concerned citizens for promptly reporting the missing children, Muarip reminded netizens about responsible social media use.

“I strongly urge the public to exercise responsibility in the use of social media. Posting or sharing unverified information without proper validation from authorities can create unnecessary fear, panic, and confusion within the community,” he warned.

In light of the incident and the ongoing Yuletide season, Muarip reiterated the DCPO’s commitment to child protection and community safety, urging increased vigilance from all sectors.

Muarip also asked parents and guardians to “closely monitor the activities and whereabouts of their children at all times.” Finally, he reminded barangay officials to “remain vigilant and proactive in overseeing the welfare and safety of their respective constituents.”

The DCPO encouraged the community to work closely with law enforcement by promptly reporting any suspicious activity to the nearest police station and to rely solely on official and verified information released by the Philippine National Police and the Davao City Police Office.

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PNP clarification on the status of the investigation of SITG Bucol

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE PHILIPPINE National Police clarified that the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) is actively pursuing some leads on the investigation into the killing of Barangay Tres De Mayo Captain Oscar “Dodong” Bucol Jr. on Nov. 25.

In a press statement on Wednesday evening, the PNP said, “Contrary to circulating claims, the SITG already has initial leads and identified persons of interest (POIs). However, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, the SITG is withholding specific details while these leads undergo further validation and linkage analysis.”

While it is correct that members of Digos CPS tested negative in the paraffin examination, it doesn’t automatically clear them from further investigation. 

The PNP remains fair, objective, and evidence-based in evaluating all angles, including the possible involvement of any individual or group.

Regarding the reported Red Toyota Innova, the SITG clarifies that the vehicle seen in the area during the time of the incident is actively being monitored. Through CCTV footage, investigators have already identified its entry and exit routes, and backtracking operations are currently ongoing to determine its movements before and after the incident.

The PNP encourages the public to continue cooperating. Anyone who may have seen a Red Innova recently repainted, repaired, or acting suspiciously in their locality is urged to report immediately. This information can significantly help the SITG in pursuing stronger leads and identifying those responsible.

The PNP assures the public that the investigation is progressing, and every piece of evidence is being carefully examined to ensure that justice for the victim and his family is served.

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Brazen attack

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Man shot dead in broad daylight in Ilang 

AN UNIDENTIFIED assailant gunned down a man along the Daang Maharlika Highway, Km. 18, Barangay Ilang, Bunawan District, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, around 3:10 p.m., prompting a hot pursuit operation by the police.

The victim was identified only as alias Nel, of legal age, single, jobless, and a resident of Purok Buhisan, Barangay Tibungco.

According to the Bunawan Police Station report, a concerned citizen notified authorities of the shooting at approximately 3:10 p.m. Investigators, led by PMSg Pantonial and PSSg Elmer P. Baliang Jr., immediately proceeded to the scene.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim was crossing the road in front of Specialist Primary Care Hospital toward Muslim Village when he was shot multiple times by the male perpetrator. 

The assailant used a firearm believed to be a caliber .45 pistol, the report added.

Nel sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the right side of the neck and the left chest and died on the spot. Reports said he was also hit on the right leg and the right side of the back. 

The suspect fled immediately after the incident toward an unknown direction.

The Regional Forensic Unit (RFU) XI Scene of the Crime Operative (SOCO) team, led by Capt Bernadine C. Magallanes, recovered two fired cartridge casings and two fired bullets.

They also recovered the victim’s bag, which contained two elongated transparent heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu (methamphetamine), an ice pick, a coin purse containing a broken watch, a cellphone keypad, one lighter, one cap, one broken tube, and one blade.

Personnel of Bunawan Police Station are investigating the case. The motive for the shooting remains to be determined.

In accordance with Muslim burial tradition, the victim’s body was brought to his residence in Purok 16, Buhisan, Barangay Tibungco, and is scheduled for burial within 24 hours.

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