‘Bato’ deplores ‘trigger-happy’ criticisms against the police force

MANILA, Philippines — “They are not happy to pull the trigger that will cost the untimely deaths of their comrades.”

Former top cop and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said this on Thursday as he rebuked “trigger-happy” criticisms of the police forces triggered by the deaths of four Army intelligence officers and a former soldier in the hands of police.

“Do you think happy sila na nakapatay sila ng kapwa nila Pilipino at kapwa nila ka-uniporme? Ako sabihin ko talaga sa nag-comment nang ganon: They are so insensitive. Hindi kasi sila naging pulis, hindi kasi sila naging sundalo kaya sabi nila trigger-happy,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters online.

(Do you think they are happy that they killed their fellow Filipino, their fellow uniformed personnel? For me, I will say to those who made those comments that they are so insensitive. Those critics are not police officers. They are not soldiers that’s why they criticize them as trigger-happy).

“Madali lang sabihin ‘yan [na] trigger happy pero I don’t think so. Nobody’s happy with that,” he added.

(It’s easy to say that they are trigger-happy but I don’t think so. Nobody’s happy with that).

But to prevent misencounters between uniformed personnel from happening again, Dela Rosa said “strong coordination” between operating units on the ground should be enforced in order to build trust among uniformed personnel.

“Kahit anong gawa mong polisiya dito sa taas, sa Senado gagawa ng ganitong policy, sa general headquarters ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) gagawa ng ganitong policy, general headquaranters ng PNP, gagawa ng ganitong policy, kung hindi naiimplement dun sa ground, wala pa ring mangyayari,” he said.

(Whatever policy you craft in the Senate or in the general headquarters of the AFP and the PNP, if it’s not enforced in the ground, nothing will happen.)

“Kung palaging nag-uusap, ma-establish yung magandang coordination at mae-establish yung rapport, yung bond between and among units. So yun ang ine-ecourage natin na sana mag-usap kayo palagi, mag-coordinate kayo pala para mawala yung distrust among them,” he added.

(But if the operating units on the ground have great coordination and a good rapport and bond will be established between and among units. So that’s what we should encourage is for them to communicate, to coordinate to lose any kind of distrust).

Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros sought for a Senate investigation into the fatal shooting of four military intelligence officers by PNP personnel in Jolo, Sulu.

“The incident in Jolo further feeds the public’s distrust toward the PNP. Lalo pa at hindi ito first time na mangyari,” she said in a statement, citing the fatal shooting of Winston Ragos, a former military man gunned down by members of the police in Quezon City last April.

(The incident in Jolo further feeds the public’s distrust toward the PNP.  Especially since this is not the first time).

“Hindi pwedeng trigger-happy ang ating [mga pulis],” she added.

(Police personnel should not be trigger-happy).

Hontiveros had said the two recent incidents “demonstrate a disturbing pattern of police behavior that may require long-term strategic measures and legislative action.”

“Extensive reform has to be done to restore the public’s trust in our institutions,” she said. [ac]