Dela Rosa: Duterte has nothing to gain in exposé of PNP generals

President Rodrigo R. Duterte leads the Philippine National Police’ assumption of command in Camp Crame, Quezon City. The President promotes the new PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa to become a four-star general. (KIWI BULACLAC/PPD/FILE PHOTO)

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa dismissed claims saying that the move of President Rodrigo Duterte of exposing the five police generals who are allegedly involved with illegal drugs trade is politically-motivated.

In a GMA News TV interview on Thursday, Dela Rosa said that the septuagenarian President has no ulterior motive in his expose against the police generals.

“Maling-mali ‘yun dahil ano pa ba ang hahabulin ng presidente. Meron pa bang reelection after six years? Saka ‘pag after six years matanda na sya. So wala na sa isip ng presidente yun kundi kabutihan para sa lahat,” Dela Rosa said.

(That could not be more wrong. What would the president get from that. Would there be a reelection after six years? Besides, after six years, he would already be old. So the president would not consider that, only the welfare of all.)

READ: ‘Bato’ turns emotional in meeting with accused generals

The PNP chief said that Duterte has no other intention other than making true of his promise of eradicating criminality and illegal drugs.

“To be fair, the man [Duterte] wala pong politics. Kapag may nagsabi ng politics, I can tell him point blank na hindi namumulitika ang ating presidente. Ano pa ba ang habulin niya? Gusto ba niya magpresidente sa Amerika?” he added.

(To be fair, the man knows nothing of politicking. When someone calls the President out for politicking, I can tell him point blank that our President doesn’t do that. What would he be after? Does he want to be president of the United States?)

During the 69^th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force last Tuesday, Duterte named Police Director Joel Pagdilao, Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio, Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, retired Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo and retired Chief Supt. Vicente Loot as alleged drug lord coddlers.

READ: Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade

Loot earlier cried foul on being tagged as a drug lord protector, saying that the charge against him is part of a “black propaganda” as his wife Maria Luisa has served as Daanbantayan town mayor for 15 years. He is the incumbent mayor after retiring from service.

Pagdilao, Tinio, and Diaz met Dela Rosa on Wednesday in an “intimate” meeting which turned the tough police chief emotional.

READ: 3 of 5 generals exposed by Duterte face ‘Bato’

All five generals are Dela Rosa’s upperclassmen at the Philippine Military Academy.

In the same interview, the police chief also said that he cannot question the wisdom of the President in exposing the police generals without consulting him.

“The president is the president. I cannot question his wisdom so alam nya ang ginagawa niya,” he said. CDG