Davao City is at the center of a controversy involving its Mayor, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and Police Regional Director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III.

The dispute, rooted in discrepancies in crime reporting, has stirred significant public interest and highlighted issues within the Davao police force.

In a candid media interview on Wednesday, Brigadier General Torre revealed troubling inconsistencies in the police blotter logbooks from the Calinan Police Precinct.

Covering the period from January to June 2024, these records showed a stark contrast between two sets of logs: one accurate and the other “sanitized,” reflecting artificially low crime rates.

Torre’s findings suggest that the reported low crime rates in Davao may not be as genuine as they appear.

“This is why I decided to relieve all police station commanders,” Torre stated firmly. “They are not serving the people of Davao properly; the public deserves transparency in how police operate in their communities.”

Torre cited several incidents to illustrate the gravity of the situation. One involved a motorcycle reported as missing in Calinan and later found in Talomo, where it had been dismantled.

The official records misleadingly categorized the incident as “found for record purposes,” rather than acknowledging it as theft.

Another troubling case involved a mother reporting the sexual abuse of her 14-year-old daughter. Despite the severity of the crime, the police advised her to wait for further contact rather than taking immediate action.

Additionally, Torre highlighted a student’s report of a stolen mobile phone, which was also marked as “for record purposes” and not classified as theft.

A review of November 2023 entries revealed that while 19 cases of theft, robbery, and physical injuries were recorded, only three were reported to the Davao City Police Office, further showcasing the discrepancies.

According to a memorandum circular, all crimes must be logged in a police blotter and forwarded to the Davao City Police Office under the Crime Information, Reporting, and Analysis System (CIRAS).

Non-compliance is a criminal offense that can lead to dismissal from service.

Despite the serious implications, Torre expressed a preference for using this incident as a learning opportunity rather than pursuing legal action.

Torre’s decision to reassign 19 DCPO station commanders sparked a fiery response from Mayor Duterte, who perceived the move as undermining his authority.

During a local program, Duterte lashed out at Torre, even threatening to slap the police chief. Torre, however, chose not to engage in the verbal spat.

“He is not worth responding to,” Torre said. “I am a professional police officer. Threatening someone is one thing; actually doing it is an entirely different matter.”

The Mayor’s outburst, which included profanities, drew mixed reactions on social media. Supporters praised his passionate defense of local governance, while critics called for greater professionalism.