The chief of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has been relieved and placed under administrative suspension effective Thursday, May 23, 2024.

According to the Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-11), Col. Richard Bad-ang was relieved in line with the probe conducted by the Regional Internal Affairs Service-Davao regarding the alleged drug-related killings in March 2024.

Seven drug suspects were killed in separate operations from March 23 to 26. The buy-bust operations happened within four days after Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte declared a war against illegal drugs.

Police claimed that the drug suspects were killed after they allegedly fought back against operatives.

Eight members of a team that carried out the operations were relieved earlier from their posts. They were disarmed and moved to DCPO’s holding center.

PRO-11 said Bad-ang’s suspension was made so as not to influence the investigation.

PRO-11’s Deputy Regional Director for Operations, Colonel Rolindo Suguilon, replaced Bad-ang as city police director.