Chief Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO/JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS
THE incoming chief of the Philippine National Police will not allow unscrupulous policemen receiving protection money from drug lords to get away from the new administration’s no nonsense drive to make the country safe from criminals within six months.
Handpicked by presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, who uses the nickname “Bato” for his tough image, fearlessly warned policemen, including the top-level police officials, to end their ties with drug syndicates or else they will be booted out of the PNP.
Dela Rosa said he already has the names policemen protecting drug syndicates but he declined to give how many officials were on the list.
Asked if police officials protecting drug lords would be removed from the ranks, dela Rosa, in an interview at Camp Crame on Wednesday, said: “(Sigurado) That’s for sure.”
“Lahat ng pulis na involved sa drugs, lumayas na kayo, huwag na kayo mag pulis. Binabayaran kayo ng gobyerno para manghuli ng mga drug personalities. Ngayon tumatanggap din kayo sa mga drug lords,” he said.
Dela Rosa, president of the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986, lambasted his fellow police officers who, instead of doing their job to stamp out criminality, protect drug lords and allow them to operate and thrive.
“Ano kayo? Sinuswerte? Sumusweldo kayo sa gobyerno, sumusweldo rin kayo sa drug lords? Sinuswerte kayo. Puputulin ko ‘yang swerte niyo ngayon.”
Asked if he is looking into police generals involved with drug syndicates, Dela Rosa told reporters: “Hindi ko sasabihin. Basta, magugulat na lang sila.”