A leaked Davao City Police Office (DCPO) memorandum has sparked mixed reactions after it directed PNP personnel to wear civilian attire with a “touch of red” during a campaign rally led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Carmen, Davao del Norte.
The memorandum, which circulated online, drew attention particularly to paragraph 4, which stated: “All detailed PNP personnel must wear civilian attire with touch of red (without firearms)…”
This directive was met with criticism, including from Atty. Israelito Torreon, legal counsel for KOJC leader and senatorial candidate Apollo Quiboloy. In a social media post, he questioned the order, stating: “Ano ibig sabihin nito kundi ginawa ng raliyista ang mga police? Anong gawain nila kung may gulo? Manuntok?”
Addressing the issue, Police Colonel Hansel Marantan, acting DCPO director, did not deny the existence of the memorandum. However, he dismissed its circulation as an “unauthorized release of an internal document.”
Marantan clarified that the directive was a standard security measure to ensure the safety of Marcos and his allies from Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. He also reaffirmed the PNP’s commitment to being apolitical and non-partisan, emphasizing that their primary duty remains maintaining peace and order.
