THE NEW Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief, Col. Peter B. Madria, ordered an investigation into the Facebook post alleging that the VAWC desk at the Police Station 17 (Baliok) had no officer to accept a complaint.
The complainant posted about seeking assistance for a Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) concern, but was allegedly advised to return the next day due to the absence of the designated officer.
Upon a subsequent visit, the VAWC office was reportedly closed with no personnel available, raising concerns over the station’s responsiveness to sensitive cases.
Madria emphasized that such lapses are unacceptable under his leadership.
He has directed the station commander of PS17 to submit a formal explanation and account for the absence of personnel assigned to the VAWC desk during the reported times.
“Public service is a duty that demands accountability and responsiveness at all times. Our police stations are mandated to operate around the clock, and every complainant must be properly attended to without delay or prejudice,” Madria stressed.
The city director reiterated that all DCPO stations are strictly mandated to ensure VAWC desks are manned and functional 24/7. He underlined that no complainant should be turned away, regardless of their circumstances or status in life.
The DCPO assured the public that the incident won’t happen again.
“We assure the public that corrective actions will be taken. The DCPO remains committed to delivering professional, compassionate, and responsive police service to every Davaoeño,” Madria added.
The DCPO also encouraged the public to report similar concerns to ensure the continuous improvement of police services across all stations.
