DAVAO CITY — The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has launched an immediate investigation into a reported lapse in service delivery at Police Station 17 in Barangay Baliok, following complaints that a Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) desk was left unattended, preventing a complainant from seeking timely assistance.
The issue surfaced after a concerned individual reported being advised to return on another day due to the absence of the designated VAWC Desk Officer. Upon returning, the complainant allegedly found the office closed, with no available personnel to address the concern—raising alarm over the station’s readiness to respond to sensitive cases involving women and children.
DCPO City Director, Peter Bauzon Madria, swiftly ordered the Station Commander of Police Station 17 to submit a formal explanation detailing the circumstances behind the absence of assigned personnel. The directive underscores the command’s zero-tolerance policy toward negligence, particularly in cases involving vulnerable sectors.
“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 emphasized.
He reiterated that all police stations under DCPO jurisdiction must ensure that VAWC Desks are consistently staffed and operational, stressing that no complainant should ever be turned away regardless of situation or social standing.
The DCPO acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and assured the public that corrective measures are being implemented to prevent a recurrence. Supervisory officers have been reminded to strengthen oversight of personnel deployment and enforce strict compliance with standard operating procedures, particularly in handling gender-sensitive and urgent cases.
The incident has sparked broader concerns about the accessibility and reliability of frontline police services, especially in addressing cases of violence against women and children—issues that require immediate, confidential, and compassionate response.
Despite the lapse, the DCPO maintained its commitment to restoring public trust through swift action and institutional reforms.
“We assure the public that corrective actions will be taken. Incidents like this will not happen again. The DCPO remains committed to delivering professional, compassionate, and responsive police service to every Dabawenyo,” Madria added.
The police office is also encouraging the public to report similar incidents to help improve accountability and ensure that all stations uphold the highest standards of service at all times.