Dela Rosa open to talks with police generals linked to drugs
NCRPO Regional Director Joel Pagdilao, Gen Vicente Loot, QCPD Director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo. Inset: Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa INQUIRER/CDN FILE PHOTOS.
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is taking the announcement on police generals allegedly linked to illegal drugs, his upperclassmen at the Philippine Military Academy, with a heavy heart but said he has a job to do.
READ: Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drug trade
“I have a heavy heart receiving this info but I have a job to do. I am the Chief, PNP. Masakit man kelangan magtrabaho (I have a job to do even if it hurts). As much as I don’t want to hurt my upperclassmen we have a job to do. We are accountable to the Filipino people,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Air Force anniversary here.
In his speech at the Air Force anniversary, President Rodrigo Duterte linked police generals, three in active service, as supposedly involved in the illegal drugs trade.
The President tagged Generals Marcelo Garbo, Vicente Loot, Gen. Bernardo Diaz, Joel Pagdilao and Edgardo Tinio. Garbo and Loot have since retired from service. Loot is the incumbent mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu.
The PNP chief said he had no knowledge that the President would reveal the names of the generals in his speech.
Duterte ordered the active generals relieved from their assignments and to report to Dela Rosa.
The PNP chief expressed willingness to talk to the active generals but said that those already retired from service were beyond his control.
“We will heed the call of the President…I will talk to them and listen to their explanation,” Dela Rosa said.
If the active generals would not report to him as ordered by the President, he said that they would be administratively liable.
“Alam ko naman mababait sila at (I know they are kind enough and) willing to communicate,” dela Rosa said.
He refused to comment on the intelligence reports on illegal drugs being received by the President.
“The President is the President. All intelligence reports are submitted to him even before he became a President (he already has) meron na siyang info,” Dela Rosa said. TVJ/rga
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