Dela Rosa won’t endorse bet for top PNP post

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is reluctant to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte another bet for the position of Philippine National Police chief after his last recommendation got mired in controversy shortly before retirement.

Dela Rosa had pushed for the appointment as PNP chief of Oscar Albayalde, who left his post before his actual retirement date after he was accused of protecting so called ninja cops, or police who allegedly resell seized illegal drugs, when he was Pampanga police chief.

“I might endorse someone and he might accept it, but then I would be blamed if this person commits a blunder. That’s why I no longer want to do it,”Dela Rosa told reporters.

Still, he said he had no regrets about recommending Albayalde as his successor, saying the latter “did his best; he was just haunted by his past.”

Dela Rosa also said another reason he did not want to endorse a particular official now was that all the contenders were close to him. —Leila B. Salaverria