Outgoing PNP Chief Ricardo Marquez. FILE PHOTO
Does it bother Director General Ricardo Marquez that the number of killings might rise when Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, incoming Philippine National Police chief, takes office?
The outgoing PNP chief’s answer? “Well, as the saying goes, different strokes for different folks.”
READ: PNP chief Marquez looks forward to retirement
Like in the administration of past PNP chiefs, Marquez said he had his own focus and priorities.
“Katulad nung mga nauna sa akin (Just like the chiefs before me), they have their own focus and priorities. I’ve had mine so I’d like to think that it’s not for me to make a comment tungkol sa mga mangyayari sa (regarding what’s going to happen in the) PNP,” Marquez told reporters in one of his last media briefings at Camp Crame.
“Lahat ng PNP chief may kanya kanyang (All PNP chiefs have their own) focus but our core purpose would remain the same, serve and protect.”
Marquez will soon transfer power over the 160,000-police force to Dela Rosa, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s personal choice for PNP chief.
Duterte picked Dela Rosa to lead the PNP as he vowed to step up war against criminality and illegal drugs.
READ: Incoming PNP chief vows ‘violent’ crackdown on drug lords
Both Duterte and Dela Rosa promised to step down from their positions if they fail to suppress crime and drug-related incidents in the country within three to six months.
After Duterte won the elections, from May 10 to June 15, the PNP has arrested 3,760 suspects and killed 29 drug suspects.
The PNP also announced that from June 16 to 20, twenty-five persons were killed in anti-illegal drugs operations, with the bulk coming from Calabarzon region.
In just four days, police arrested 552 drug suspects, most of them coming from the Calabarzon region and from Metro Manila. IDL/rga