Vicente Danao

Last updated
Police Lieutenant General
Vicente Danao
PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. presents the six-year accomplishment report during the Duterte Legacy Summit (54810) (cropped).jpg
Danao in May 2022
Commander of Area Police Command - Western Mindanao of the Philippine National Police
In office
August 08, 2022 –August 10, 2023
Police offices
Service years1991–2023
Rank Philippines-Police-OF-8.svg Police Lieutenant General

Vicente "Vic" Dupa Danao Jr. (born August 10, 1967) [1] is a Retired Filipino law enforcement officer and former Commander of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao. Danao has been with the Philippine National Police for over 29 years and has served as Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine National Police from May to August 2022, Deputy Chief for Operations, Chief of the National Capital Region Police Office from 2020 until 2022, [2] deputy director for operations of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, as task force commander under the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, and as chief of police in two cities and two regions. His longest term as police chief was between October 2013 and June 2016 in Davao City. [3] [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Danao is a native of Nueva Vizcaya and was born on August 10, 1967. [5] He was raised in Bayombong and attended Saint Mary's College where he completed his high school education in 1984. [4] Danao then entered the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio where he received his officer cadet training as a part of the graduating class of 1991, the PMA Sambisig Class. [1]

Career

Danao was drafted into the Southern Mindanao Regional Special Action Force immediately after completing his military training in 1991. He was commissioned as a junior officer deployed in the operations against Communist insurgents and was stationed in the province of Surigao del Sur for four years. [4] In 1995, he began his law enforcement career when he enlisted in the Philippine National Police as a SWAT commander for the Davao City Police Office. He earned his first promotion to Senior Inspector the following year when he also began serving as station commander. [4]

For eleven years beginning in 1996, Danao was posted to five different districts in Davao City as a station chief. He was first posted to the Baguio police station, followed by Marilog in 1998, and Calinan in 1999 which he headed until 2002 and where he received his second promotion as Chief Inspector in 2000. Danao also served briefly as station chief for Sasa district and as head of the Davao City Police Office anti-vice regulation unit before his designation as Talomo police chief with his rank upgraded to Police Superintendent in 2003. [4] As chief of the Talomo Police Station, Danao was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months in 2005 along with two other precinct commanders and former Davao police chief Conrado Laza for their negligence and incompetence in solving the spate of murders allegedly committed by a Davao Death Squad between 1998 and 2004. [6] The suspension order was subsequently reversed by the Court Appeals after a petition was filed. [7]

Danao then moved up to the Davao Region Police Regional Office XI and took up the post of Deputy Director for Operation in 2007. He also served as the region's chief of the Security Agencies and Group Supervisions Division in the same year. Danao held three more posts at the regional office before returning to the Davao City Police Office in 2013: Director of the PRO11 Regional Mobile Group (2008–2009); Deputy Director for Logistics Research and Development (2009–2011); and Director for Logistics Research and Development (2011–2013). [4] In April 2010, Danao and 25 other officers of the Davao City Police Office and Police Regional Office 11 were ordered suspended by the Ombudsman for six months in connection with the unsolved killings complaint filed by Davao City Deserves Good Government Movement which accused them of having a direct involvement in the Davao death squad that the movement said was responsible for the murder of at least 800 persons between 2005 and 2008. [8] The Court of Appeals rejected the Ombudsman decision in July 2010 and lifted the suspension order after it found that the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion when it used raw statistics despite the absence of evidence pointing to police neglect. [9] In March 2012, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered a fine equivalent to a month's salary against Danao and 20 other police officers for neglect of duty in connection with the same complaint filed by the movement. [10]

In October 2013, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte chose Danao as Davao City's new police chief to replace Ronald dela Rosa who transferred to Quezon City after being appointed as head of the PNP Intelligence Group. [5] He revived the Oplan Tokhang program started by his predecessor to address the city's persistent drug problem. [11] In September 2014, Danao figured in a domestic abuse controversy with his wife, Susie Danao. Videos of Danao beating his wife circulated on social media which led to the filing of a complaint and a temporary suspension. [12] He was reinstated to his post one month later after being cleared in an investigation. [13] Danao served as Davao police chief until the end of Mayor Duterte's term in June 2016. [13]

Danao transferred to the PNP Directorate for Intelligence in Camp Crame as counterintelligence chief at the start of Duterte's term as president. [13] He also served as Deputy Chief for Operations of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group until 2018. In a Senate hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings during the Philippine Drug War in September 2016, Danao and four other former Davao cops were accused of torture and arbitrary detention by self-confessed assassin Edgar Matobato. [13] In May 2017, Danao assumed command of the National Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force under the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs. [14] He then transferred to the nation's capital and served as Chief of the Manila Police District beginning November 2018 where he received his promotion to Police Chief Superintendent equivalent to Brigadier General rank. [15] As Manila police chief, Danao ordered the suspension of at least 15 cops with alleged ties to illegal drugs and laid a murder charge against a Sampaloc barangay captain who was an alleged drug lord. [16]

Danao was then assigned with the Police Regional Office IV-A based in Calamba, Laguna in October 2019. As Calabarzon police chief, he is credited for the surrender of 131 Communist rebels operating in indigenous tribe lands in Rizal, Quezon and Laguna provinces in July 2020. [17] On November 10, 2020, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced Danao's formal designation as Chief of the National Capital Region Police Office.

In March 2022, he was designated as the Chief of PNP Directorial Staff. Upon his designation, he was promoted as Police Lieutenant General. In May 2, 2022, he was promoted as Deputy Chief of Operations. In May 8, upon retirement of PGen. Dionardo Carlos, Pres. Duterte announced Danao's formal designation as Officer in Charge of the Philippine National Police.

Awards

Danao received the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Heroism Medal) for his leadership and outstanding performance in the successful rescue of an Indian kidnapped victim in Davao City in April 2015. [18] He also received three separate commendations from the Mayor of Davao City for the arrest of suspects in the killing of businessman Ramon Garcia in June 2014, and for solving the Matina massacre in New Lanzona Village and the arrest of the Balbacua gang members involved in the killing of a foreigner during his tenure as Talomo police chief. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine National Police</span> National police of the Philippines

The Philippine National Police is the armed national police force in the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currently, it has approximately 228,000 personnel to police a population in excess of 100 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodrigo Duterte</span> President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022

Rodrigo Roa Duterte, also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson of PDP–Laban, the ruling political party in the Philippines during his presidency. Duterte is the first president of the Philippines to be from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assume office, beginning his term at age 71.

The Davao Death Squad (DDS) is a vigilante group in Davao City, Philippines. The group is alleged to have conducted summary executions of street children and individuals suspected of petty crimes and drug dealing. It has been estimated that the group is responsible for the killing or disappearance of between 1,020 and 1,040 people between 1998 and 2008. The 2009 report by the CHR noted stonewalling by local police under Duterte while a leaked cable observed a lack of public outrage among Davao residents.

The following are the events in related to Philippine law in 2016. This includes developments in criminal investigations of national notability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald dela Rosa</span> Filipino politician and retired police general (born 1962)

Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, also known as Bato, is a Filipino politician and retired police officer who is currently serving as a senator of the Philippines since 2019. He served under the Duterte administration as the chief of the Philippine National Police from July 1, 2016, to April 19, 2018, overseeing the government's anti-drug campaign; he also served as the Director General of the Bureau of Corrections from April 30 to October 12, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine drug war</span> Campaign against illegal drug trade in the Philippines

The Philippine drug war, known as the War on Drugs, is the intensified anti-drug campaign that began during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who served office from June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2022. The campaign reduced drug proliferation in the country, but has been marred by extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the police and unknown assailants. By 2022, it is estimated that between 20,000 civilians have been killed in "anti-drug operations" carried out by the government and its supporters.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a speech at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Camp Panacan, Davao City on August 7, 2016. In the speech, delivered shortly after midnight during his wake visit to four NavForEastMin soldiers killed during clashes with the New People's Army in Compostela Valley, Duterte revealed the names of 150 public officials, including mayors and other local government executives, legislators, police, military and judges, found to be involved in illegal drug trade. He described the drugs situation in the country as "pandemic" after 600,000 drug dealers and dependents have surrendered to the police in just one month since he took office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidnapping and killing of Jee Ick-Joo</span> South Korean businessman kidnapped by the Philippine National Police

Jee Ick-Joo was a South Korean businessman kidnapped by two policemen and later found dead on October 18, 2016, within the grounds of Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP). A funeral parlor cremated his remains and flushed his ashes down a toilet. The policemen who kidnapped him were charged with kidnapping, carnapping, and homicide, while the officer who allegedly planned the attack was acquitted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalino Cuy</span> Filipino politician

Catalino "Lito" Salandanan Cuy is a Filipino retired police director and current chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board under the Duterte administration and Marcos administration. He assumed the role of acting Secretary of the Interior and Local Government on April 5, 2017, upon the departure of Ismael Sueno who was dismissed by President Duterte following corruption allegations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murders of Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman</span> Murders of three teenagers in the Philippines by police officers

Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman were three teenagers who were killed on August 16 to 18, 2017, during the course of the Philippine drug war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Albayalde</span> Former Chief of the Philippine National Police

Oscar David Albayalde is a retired Filipino police officer who served as the Chief of the Philippine National Police from April 2018 until his optional retirement in October 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief of the Philippine National Police</span>

The Chief of the Philippine National Police is the head of the Philippines' national police body, the Philippine National Police (PNP). The position is invariably held by a Police General, a four-star general police officer.

Ninja cops, or narco cops, is a term that was popularized at the height of the Philippine drug war, which began during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. It refers to a label used to refer to police personnel who are alleged to be involved in the illegal drug trade themselves by reselling portion of the contraband seized in anti drug operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archie Gamboa</span> Former Chief of the Philippine National Police

Archie Francisco Feranil Gamboa is a Filipino lawyer and retired police general who served as the 23rd Chief of the Philippine National Police from October 2019 to September 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debold Sinas</span> Former Chief of the Philippine National Police

Debold Menorias Sinas is a Filipino retired police general who served as Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from November 2020 to May 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw the COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines. However, he was also accused of violating the COVID-19 lockdown rules himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jovie Espenido</span> Filipino police officer

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido is a controversial Filipino police officer known as a crusader against illegal drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camilo Cascolan</span> Filipino police officer (1964–2023)

Camilo Pancratius Pascua Cascolan was a Filipino police general who served as the 24th Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from September to November 2020 under President Rodrigo Duterte. After his retirement from the PNP, President Bongbong Marcos appointed him as an undersecretary of the Department of Health where he served from October 2022 until his death in November 2023. He was the first Cordilleran to lead the country's national police force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 PNP–PDEA shootout</span>

On February 24, 2021, a botched buy-bust operation resulted in a shootout between units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. The incident resulted in the deaths of two police officers, a PDEA agent and an informant. Both agencies claimed that they had been conducting a legitimate anti-drug operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dionardo Carlos</span> Chief of the Philippine National Police

Police General Dionardo Bernardo Carlos is a Filipino police officer who served as the 27th Chief of the Philippine National Police from November 13, 2021, up to May 8, 2022, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. He was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

References

  1. 1 2 Marquez, C. (November 11, 2020). "New acting NCRPO chief Danao vows police visibility within NCR". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ CNN Philippines Staff (November 10, 2020). "Calabarzon top cop replaces Sinas as Metro Manila police chief". CNN Philippines . Retrieved November 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ↑ Talabong, R. (August 31, 2020). "Top contenders: Who will replace PNP chief Archie Gamboa?". Rappler . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tejano, I.C. (December 6, 2013). "A fulfilled man in uniform". SunStar Davao . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Danao takes over from Dela Rosa". Edge Davao. October 25, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Ombudsman suspends 4 cops over Davao City slays". The Philippine Star. July 1, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ Regalado, E. (July 9, 2005). "CA stops suspension of 4 Davao policemen". The Philippine Star . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Hernandez, R.M. (April 20, 2010). "26 Davao police officials suspended". SunStar Davao . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  9. ↑ Depasupil, W. (July 12, 2010). "CA lifts suspension on Davao policemen". The Manila Times . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  10. ↑ Torres, T. (March 29, 2012). "21 PNP officers fined for 2005-2008 spate of killings in Davao City". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  11. ↑ Nawal, A.; Fernandez, E. (January 8, 2015). "Davao City cops revive 'knock and persuade' campaign on drug trade suspects". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  12. ↑ Reformina, I. (October 29, 2014). "Davao police chief sued by 'abused' wife". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Talabong, R. (June 9, 2019). "Vicente Danao: When Davao's finest takes over Manila police". Rappler . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  14. ↑ Cupin, B. (May 17, 2017). "Controversial Davao cop heads Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force". Rappler . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  15. ↑ Manabat, J. (November 8, 2018). "Ex-Davao top cop is new Manila Police chief". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  16. ↑ Nicholls, A.C. (October 11, 2019). "Police file murder complaint vs. 'drug queen'". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  17. ↑ Tomandao, R. (July 23, 2020). "Gamboa, cops laud 131 Red rebel surrenderers". Manila Standard . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  18. ↑ Tejano, I.C. (May 20, 2015). "Police head, 9 others honored". SunStar Davao . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  19. ↑ de los Reyes, S. (June 14, 2014). "A job well done". SunStar Davao (via Pressreader). Retrieved November 13, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.