(FILE) Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. (Voltaire F. Domingo/ Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Alarmed by the reported spike in kidnapping cases in the country, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday asked the Philippine National Police to act fast and be more proactive and aggressive in going after criminals.
As chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Dela Rosa said he is also ready to investigate the kidnapping incidents if proven true.
“Granting na totoo talaga yan lahat dahil as of now PNP is denying such reports na hindi daw totoo yung nangyari, parang mga hoax yung ibang reports but itong ang source naman natin na iba from the civilian themselves mismo ay victim na ng kidnapping then I am very much alarmed,” he said in a press briefing at the Senate.
(Granting all these reports are true because as of now PNP is denying such reports, saying it’s not true and some are hoax reports but some of our sources are from the civilian themselves who are victims of kidnapping, then I am very much alarmed.)
“Being the chairman of public order and dangerous drugs I’m very much alarmed so dapat kikilos ang PNP rito ng mabilis para maaksyunan at makakita ng results.”
(Being the chairman of public order and dangerous drugs I’m very much alarmed so the PNP should act fast here so we can see results)
Otherwise, he said, these criminals will feel invincible that former President Rodrigo Duterte is no longer in power.
To eradicate this lawlessness, the PNP must be proactive and aggressive, Dela Rosa said.
“Agresibo upak nang upak hindi yung mag-antay sila na sila ang upakan o yung mga sibilyan ang upakan. Upakan na nila yung mga kriminal, yung mga sindikato na yan. Meron naman silang intelligence about that,” he said.
(PNP should be aggressive. Rather than waiting to be hit, they should have explosive agility. They should strike these criminals and the syndicates.)
“Upakan nyo, PNP, wag kayo na mag hintay na makapanakot ng tao itong mga kriminal na ito,” he added.
(PNP, take the fight to these crooks; don’t let them intimidate the pepole. )
Lest he be misconstrued, Dela Rosa clarified his statement saying going after criminals should be done through legitimate police operations.
“When I say upakan— I was the chief for the PNP, I’ve been senator for 3 years hanggang ngayon i mimisinterpret pa rin nyo ako pagdating sa term na yan. Upakan through legal means, upakan thru legitimate operations. That’s it,” he stressed.
(When I say hit them— I was the chief for the PNP, I’ve been a senator for 3 years—until now you will still misinterpret me. Hit them through legal means, through legitimate operations)
But what is lacking PNP that there are now reports of rising cases of criminalities?
Hesitant at first, Dela Rosa later said the PNP lacks enthusiasm.
“You want to put it bluntly? Kulang sa asim. Kulang sa arrive yung kapulisan sa ngayon. Para bang kung talagang may arrive e dapat takot ang kriminal gumawa ng criminal activities…” he said.
(You want to put it bluntly? They lack enthusiasm. Our police force now lacks that drive. If they really have that drive then they would be afraid to commit criminal activities.)