The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has defended a leaked memorandum that reportedly instructed officers to wear civilian clothes with a touch of red while securing a campaign rally for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s senatorial slate in Davao del Norte.
DCPO acting director Police Colonel Hansel Marantan clarified that the memo, which surfaced on social media, was an internal document related to a request from Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) to deploy officers in support of the Presidential Security Command (PSC). He emphasized that the deployment was purely for security and not a political move.
“DCPO upholds its duty to protect all citizens, regardless of political affiliations, and remains neutral and professional in all its operations,” Marantan said.
Political Implications?
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, has called for an investigation, questioning why police officers were instructed to wear red—often associated with political symbolism.
“The police should be apolitical. If they were ordered to wear red shirts, that is a political move,” Dela Rosa said, adding that officers should have worn official police uniforms instead.
With election season heating up, the memo’s implications on police neutrality remain a hot topic of debate.