MANILA, Philippines — Several instances involving an alleged act of insubordination and a questionable manner of arrest in Misamis Occidental triggered Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s anger during a public hearing held Tuesday.
“Mabait ka pala, chief. If I were the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief tapos hindi ako kakausapin ng tao ko, lilipad ako right there and then. Lilipad ako papuntang Misamis Occidental at pagsisipain ko ‘yung mga opisyal na ‘yun na ayaw akong kausapin,” said Dela Rosa.
(You’re too kind, chief. If I were the chief PNP and my people wouldn’t talk to me, I would fly right there and then. I will fly to Misamis Occidental and kick those officials who don’t want to talk to me.)
Dela Rosa said this after finding out that personnel from the Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office refused to talk to PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda after Bonifacio municipality Mayor Samson Dumanjug’s arrest.
It can be recalled that controversy hounded PNP over alleged “inhumane” and “violent acts” perpetrated by some of its personnel in Misamis Occidental.
“That’s insubordination — plain and simple,” stressed Dela Rosa, who previously served as the PNP chief under the Duterte administration.
During the hearing, Police Colonel Marlon Kimno, Provincial Director of Misamis Occidental Police, defended his and other officers’ refusal to talk to Acorda, saying that they did not intentionally avoid the chief.
“’Wag mo akong bolahin. Halatang nambobola ka sakin. Nag retire ako as chief PNP. Alam ko ‘yan. Gumagawa ka pa ng rason,” Dela Rosa retorted.
(Don’t try to fool me. You are obviously fooling me. I retired as PNP chief. I know this. You’re making excuses.)
However, Dela Rosa insisted that he is “not siding with anyone,” adding that he only wants to maintain and preserve the integrity of PNP.
Apart from this alleged act of insubordination, Dela Rosa’s ire was likewise fueled by irregularities and the questionable arrest of Dumanjug.
Dumanjug, during the hearing, attested that several PNP personnel, along with unidentified men, physically broke the windows of his office, aimed high-powered firearms at him, forced him to a wheelchair, bound his hands and feet to the said wheelchair, and wrapped his head with a cloth.
Footage presented by the complainant during the hearing likewise showed that the arresting officials had their faces hidden by wearing masks.
“Sino itong naka bonnet at ayaw magpakita ng mukha? Tao ba niyo ito?” asked Dela Rosa.
(Who are these wearing bonnets and don’t want to show their faces? Are these your officers?)
“Those are our responders,” Brigadier General Joseph Villanueva answered, clarifying that the persons identified were not police officers.
To this, Dela Rosa responded: It’s as if they are robbers who don’t want to show their faces.
RELATED STORIES
Marcos orders PNP to identify political hotspots, intensify ops vs illegal guns
PNP steps up drive vs cops facing domestic violence raps