Bato on release of ‘Tokhang’ files: I have nothing to fear

Former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa jumps on stage during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign caravan in San Fernando, Pampanga. INQUIRER photo / Grig C. Montegrande

MANILA, Philippines — Former chief of police and now senatorial aspirant Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday said the release of “Oplan Tokhang” police reports does not worry him at all.

But he also warned that police may be subjected to “harassment” due to the release of the drug war documents.

“Wala akong concerns. Wala akong tinatago. Wala akong takot diyan. Go ahead, that’s public document,” Dela Rosa told reporters in an interview at the sidelines of PDP-Laban’s campaign rally in Malabon City.

Dela Rosa made the remark after the Supreme Court ordered the release of all “Oplan Tokhang” police reports to human rights groups and victims that questioned the legality of the government’s war on drugs.

READ: Supreme Court orders release of all ‘Tokhang’ police reports

Dela Rosa led the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs as head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from July 2016 to April 2018.

The government’s crackdown on illegal drugs has long been criticized for allegedly breaching human rights, an allegation the police vehemently denied.

READ: Gov’t: 72 killed in January 2019 drug ops; total hits 5,176

Police prone to harassment

Dela Rosa, however, expressed concern that the release of Tokhang files could make  policemen vulnerable to harassment.

“Prone na prone ang kapulisan natin sa harassment. Kapag na-harass ‘yung mga pulis d’yan wala nang magtrabaho d’yan. Kapag ikaw nagka-kaso, suspindido ka wala ka ng sweldo, saan ka kukuha pagkain (para) sa pamilya mo?” he said.

But Dela Rosa maintained he has nothing against the release of the police reports.

“Wala kaming tinatago. Open kami,” he said. /kga