Dela Rosa warns errant anti-drug cops: ‘I am your number one enemy’
FILE PHOTO: Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Photo from PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald dela Rosa has warned anti-narcotic operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that he will be their “number one enemy” should they use their positions for illegal activities.
Dela Rosa said this on Monday, after several officers previously assigned to the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) have been implicated in the abduction of online cockfighting or e-sabong agents, which his committee had investigated.
According to the Senator, who was President Rodrigo Duterte’s first PNP chief and who was responsible for the initial implementation of the war against illegal drugs, he loves anti-drug operatives for their hard work. However, he noted that criminal acts — if proven — would not be tolerated.
“Again, I would like to tell you, ha. Alam niyo kayong mga pulis lalong-lalo na kayong mga anti-drug operatives, it pains me kung malaman ko na kayo’y na-involve sa kalokohan dahil sa lahat ng kapulisan, supposed to be kayo ang pinakamahal ko, ‘yung mga anti-drug operators dahil diyan ako nakilala ng buong bansa at ng international community dahil sa ating war on drugs,” he said.
“Kaya ako, malaki ang utang na loob ko sa inyo, sa inyong pagsusumikap sa trabaho niyo sa war on drugs. But kinaklaro ko naman palagi, mahal ko man kayo pero ‘pag kayo’y gumawa ng kalokohan, I am your number one enemy. Prangkahan tayo. I am your number one enemy,” he added.
Dela Rosa reiterated his warning, saying that even if he admires anti-drug operatives who have risked their lives for the drug war, he would not hesitate to pin them down should they lend their hand to criminal activities.
“Pero ‘pag kayo’y gumagawa ng katinuan, I love you all. Ako’y humahanga sa inyo dahil sinusugal niyo ang buhay niyo diyan sa war on drugs. Alam ko, marami na sa kasamahan ninyo ang namatay, marami nang kasamahan ninyo ang nadisgrasya at maraming nagkakaso,” he said.
“Pero ‘pag kalokohan naman ang gagawin niyo, I am your number one enemy. Guaranteed ‘yan. So ‘yun lang ang gusto kong iparating sa inyo,” he explained.
During Monday’s hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing on e-sabong, the partner of a certain Johnver Francisco — allegedly an operator of an online cockfighting franchise — accused at least six police officers of being behind Francisco’s abduction.
The woman identified the police officers who supposedly conspired with brothers Nicasio and Nicholas Manio to kidnap Francisco last April 18, 2021, as Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, SSgt. Denar Roda, Ssgt. Afredo Andes, Ssgt. Troy Paragas, Ssgt. Jovelyn Tamagos, and Natividad Alreg. They were part of the NCRPO’s RDEU, which Orapa used to head. Orapa said he is now with NCRPO’s Regional Holding Unit.
While Orapa and the other police officers, except Alreg, have denied knowing the Manio brothers, Francisco’s partner insisted that she has evidence to prove that they know each other — including a closed-circuit television camera footage showing the police officers and the siblings supposedly eating together.
READ: Cops, other suspects deny involvement in e-sabong operators’ abduction
The woman also noted that even the NBI agents and investigators know that the Manios talked with the victims’ families to offer their help and promised coordination. She added that the siblings likewise told her that Francisco was buried in Laguna.
The hearing on the disappearance of e-sabong aficionados concluded also on Monday, with the committee recommending crafting a law that would institutionalize and regulate online cockfighting in the country.
E-sabong has been widely scrutinized in the Senate after several operators and agents involved in the gambling scheme were abducted by unknown individuals. Several of the victims claimed that these were conducted by police officers, but none of the officers have admitted to the accusations.
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