Insisting ‘conspiracy’ between cops, bombers ‘rubs more salt to injury’ — Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — Insisting on the theory that Sulu policemen involved in the shooting of four military officers last June may have conspired with the suicide bombers being tracked by the officers would “rub more salt to injury,” former top cop and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa made the pronouncement on Wednesday after Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to relieve the entire Jolo police force following recent twin bombings in the area.

She said relieving the entire Jolo PNP would dispel doubts on possible “infiltration” of terrorists, considering that the suicide bombers responsible for the explosions were the subject of the anti-terrorism operation being undertaken by the slain military intelligence officers.

“If we insist on the theory na talagang may sabwatan yung pulis at Abu Sayyaf…it will rub more salt to the injury. Hindi ako nagdedepensa sa police but if we insist on that theory na sila ay kakuntsaba, it will demoralize the local police,” Dela Rosa said.

(If we insist on the theory that there is connivance with the police and Abu Sayyaf…it will rub more salt to injury. I’m not defending the police but if we insist on that theory that there is connivance, it will demoralize the local police.)

“Unless sana magkakaroon tayo ng magandang siguradong ebidensya, na ia-accuse natin sila na ganun, pero…hindi natin na-establish sa hearing,” he added.

(Unless we can establish solid evidence, that we accuse them of something like that, but…we did not establish it during the hearing.)

Last week, Dela Rosa led a Senate public order committee hearing into the June 29 incident to determine what triggered the shooting.

“Alam mo being a policeman, pag ako marinig ko yan sa baba, ma-demoralize ang kapulisan niyan. That is just my comment, personal comment ko lang yan,” he added.

(You know, being a policeman, if I hear that, the police will be demoralized. That is just my comment, a personal comment.)

Hontiveros agreed with Dela Rosa that no motive was established during the hearing.

“Hindi na-establish yung ganung theory,” she said.

(That theory was not established.)

But added: “Ang disturbing ay walang na-establish na theory.”

(That is what is disturbing, that there is no theory established.)

But she pointed out that it should still be considered as one of the motives since Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. himself raised this as a possibility.

READ: Sulu cops connected with suicide bombers? Military official cites possible motive on Jolo shooting

“Kailangan pa rin itanong ngayon—in the light of the twin bombings sa Jolo, Sulu—yung teorya na yun. Obligado tayo na i-pursue pa rin siya at tignan kung meron bang laman,” Hontiveros said.

(This is still a valid question to ask—in light of the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu—that theory. We are obligated to pursue that angle and find out whether there is truth to it.)

“Dahil palagay ko rin po, bilang biyuda ng PNP [officer], mas nakaka-demoralize sa karamihan ng mga PNP na tapat na gumawa ng kanilang tungkulin kung maiiwan yung ganyang bahid na hindi klarong natatanggal,” she added.

(Because I think, as a widow of a PNP officer, it is more demoralizing to those in the PNP who are honest with their work that there is this issue of possible terrorist links that has yet to be clarified.)

JE