OUTGOING CHIEF. Outgoing Davao City Police Office City Director Michael John Dubria says he is happy to have served the people of Davao as their city director. Dubria assumed his post June last year but was recently promoted as Senior Executive Assistant to Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa. Dubria attended his last press conference with Davao reporters on Wednesday, March 22. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
Davao City, Philippines — Police Sr. Supt. Michael John Dubria bid farewell to the members of the press as the Davao City Police Office City Director on Wednesday, March 22 following his new assignment in Camp Crame.
Dubria will be transferred to the Philippine National Police Headquarters in Camp Rafael Crame as Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa’s new senior executive assistant.
Dubria is set to vacate his position on March 23, after receiving the official order Monday evening.
Dubria said his new job will mainly deal with administrative work, especially in assisting the PNP chief.
Dubria said he was also informed that he will be handling the permits to carry firearms outside residence.
When asked what experience stuck to him during his short stint as city director, Dubria said it would be the Roxas Night Market bombing.
“There were many casualties. I, being a resident from Davao City, I can really feel that it’s disheartening. Why it had to happen. But then, we know that things were not the same when our former mayor became the president,” Dubria said.
On September 2, an improvised explosive device believed to be planted by the Maute group claimed 15 lives which triggered President Rodrigo Duterte declaring the country under a State of Lawless Violence.
“He waged wear in in many fronts. He made a lot of enemies. Enemies that are involved in drugs, terrorism, corruption, and of course criminality,” Dubria said.
Dubria even almost lost his post after the incident after City Mayor Sara Duterte threatened to replace him following the bombing.
Read related story: Sara wants Dubria to stay as police chief
“I don’t want him to forget. 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” Duterte said on October last year.
Dubria admitted that his stint as DCPO’s chief was very challenging. Dubria said it was different from the tenure of his predecessors.
“Different ang pag si-city director ko compared to all the other city directors in the previous administrations. Kasi, then city directors were just serving the mayor of Davao City. Now, not only the mayor but also the president.”
(My time as city director is different compared to all the other city directors in the previous administrations. Back then, city directors were just serving the mayor of Davao City. Not, not only the mayor but also the president), Dubria said.
In previous interviews, Dubria admitted the challenges of securing the home town of the president, who goes home to his house in Ecoland every week. Another challenge that beset Dubria’s tenure are the numerous international engagements that were held in the city.
Read related story: Davao police claims expertise in securing events
“The good thing about this is that the people of Davao City are resilient and cooperative, and most of us Dabawenyos are disciplined,” Dubria said.
Despite the challenges to his leadership, Dubria said he is leaving the DCPO “happy, proud, content, and satisfied” with their performance.
As a final note to reporters, Dubria said he hoped the media would foster good relations with the police.
“By way of your reporting, we get feed back also. You are very important. Let us propagate good working relations. Because you are the vehicle, the median between the police and the populace,” Dubria said.
Temporarily replacing Dubria as officer-in-charge is Police Regional Office-Davao Region Deputy Regional Director for Operations Valeriano de Leon.
Police Regional Office 11 spokesperson Police Chief Insp. Andrea Dela Cerna said there is no shortlist yet for the next city director. (davaotoday.com)
