Senator Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa during a hearing session of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. (Photo from Senate of the Philippines’ Facebook.)
MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Tuesday urged different executive branch agencies to ramp up efforts to maintain peace-keeping amid crimes committed by foreign criminals in relation to the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo).
During a senate hearing in response to Senator Grace Poe’s privileged speech on the alleged kidnapping of a Chinese national, Senators Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito probed government agencies ranging from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor and Employment and more.
“Ang peace and order ng Pilipinas, na sa inyong mga kamay, kayo ang nasa executive branch ng government. Kami lang ang taga-gawa ng policy, taga-gawa ng batas,” said Dela Rosa to the agency representatives.
(The peace and order of the Philippines are in your hands, you in the executive branch. We are the only ones who make policies and laws.)
“‘Pag magulo ang Pilipinas, mahina kayo. Kapag peaceful ang Pilipinas, magaling kayo,” he added.
(If the Philippines are in chaos, it is a sign of your weakness. You have achieved success if you have established peace in the Philippines.)
When asked for updates regarding the alleged kidnapping that Poe had raised, former Pasay City Police Chief Colonel Byron Tagle Tabernilla said that they could trace the evidence from the senator’s privilege speech and arrested two suspects who are Chinese nationals.
Both were found with illegal firearms and explosives, much to Dela Rosa’s shock. Tabernilla also said that the suspects tried to open fire on police officials, but they were subdued by the authorities.
“Kung ako bubunutan niyan, ganyan kagandang baril, double tap ko agad ‘tong ulo nitong mga suspect na ito. Magbubunot pa kaya? Mabuti nalang mabait kayo,” said the former PNP chief turned Senator.
(If they tried to pull a gun at me, I would double-tap these suspects. Pulling a gun out? Good thing you are nice).
Ejercito agreed with Dela Rosa’s statement, stressing that examples needed to be set for foreign criminals operating in the country.
“Itong mga loko-loko na ito, hindi sila pwede sisiga-siga dito eh, lalo na yung mga illegal. We have to show them, flex our muscles,” said Ejercito.
(These idiots cannot act all tough here, especially if they are illegal. We have to show them, flex our muscles).
Dela Rosa also expressed his concern about the proliferation of illegal firearms in the country after he saw the weapons recovered from the suspects, which include a kimber and ZZ 75, handguns, as well as a grenade.
“May problema tayo nito. Bakit nagkaka-armas itong mga Chinese na ito ng ganyan kagandang armas na wala tayong records? Baka mamaya magising nalang tayo ng isang umaga na naglabasan na yung mga Chinese na yan ng armas at mag-declare na kanila na itong Pilipinas. Ganun tayo kakulang sa control sa proliferation ng firearms” said Dela Rosa.
(We have a problem here. Why did these Chinese get sophisticated arms without any records? Maybe later on we might wake up one morning and all of the Chinese have these arms and they declare that the Philippines is theirs).
In her privilege speech last December 14, 2022, where she raised the alleged kidnapping case, Poe had questioned if government institutions had the capacity to address crimes allegedly tied to Pogos.
“It is clear that these crimes are happening before us. I would eagerly call on the authorities to rescue the victims but we cannot just go on saving each and every time someone is kidnapped by Pogos. Allow me to reiterate my call, let’s face the music and decide once and for all if our institutions are still stronger than Pogo,” she said.