Police Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO/JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS
If he fails to make good on his promise to bring down crime within the first six months of the Duterte administration, he will kiss the Philippine National Police goodbye.
That’s another promise from incoming PNP Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato’’ de la Rosa, who said he would hand his resignation to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte if he failed him in his anticrime campaign.
“I am ready to face the consequences if I fail after six months. I will surrender and say, ‘Please replace me, sir. I failed you and the people,’” he said on Friday.
De la Rosa, who was chosen by Duterte as his top cop, was a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986. He is the current executive officer of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.
Nicknamed “Bato” (Rock), the tough-talking De la Rosa swore to take down drug lords and pushers, even challenging them to fight it out with the PNP.
P50-million bounty
De la Rosa said convicted drug lords were putting up a P50-million bounty to take him and Duterte down because of their vow to suppress crime in six months.
READ: ‘Bring it on’: Bounty on ‘Bato’ upped to P50M
He said his resignation would be based on the PNP’s crime statistics, accomplishments and media and public assessment of his performance.
“It will be irrevocable. I am not like other officials who cling to their posts. I have delicadeza,” he added.
READ: ‘Bato’ ultimatum: I’ll quit if crimes not reduced after 6 months
There is no escaping De la Rosa’s sharp eye—even rogue policemen—as he swore to implement a thorough internal cleansing of the 160,000-strong PNP.
He said the investigation would be kept under wraps. He disclosed that he had a list of lawmen involved in illegal activities.
De la Rosa also promised to subject these policemen to a lifestyle check.
“We will do all approaches—legal, illegal—just to stop them,” he said, without giving details.
Maximum security
Meanwhile, the police force is ready to provide maximum security to its incoming chief.
READ: PNP firm on Bato’s security despite incoming chief’s opposition
“He deserves to be protected as the PNP chief. He should be guarded because he’s the head of the organization, although he is confident considering that he is a good shooter,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Friday.
Mayor said it would be up to the incoming PNP chief to decide on his personal security arrangements, including a request for additional security.
The PNP chief, who holds the rank of director general, usually has an aide-de-camp, a security officer and a team of policemen “sufficient enough to ensure his safety,” Mayor said.
Trust and confidence
Local units or territorial forces may also be called in for area and route security to protect the PNP chief wherever he goes.
His choice of security escorts will depend on his level of trust and confidence in policemen, who are trained to guard high-profile personalities.
“The primary concern of an organization is to protect its leader. He said he was a warrior chief, a shooter, but again he has responsibilities and holds a sensitive position, so he really deserves to be protected,” Mayor said.TVJ
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