‘Bato’ on fight vs drugs: Many have already died, do we stop now?

PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) decried the “legal harassment” faced by the police force following the deaths of hundreds of suspected drug users and pushers in its anti-illegal drugs operations.

Director General Roland “Bato” Dela Rosa told policemen during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony that the “harassment” stemmed from the PNP’s intensified fight against criminality and drugs.

“’Yung suporta ng Duterte administration sa ating kapulisan, na kung saan ngayon ay nanganganib sa mga legal harassment, sa mga counter-charges, sa ating ginagawa ngayong mas pinaigting na kampanya laban sa droga, kriminalidad at korapsyon. Hindi ba kayo naha-high morale niyan na lahat ng tao ay tinutulungan tayo? Lahat ng mamamayan ay gusto tayo, ang PNP, na mag-succeed, sa ating kampanya laban sa droga at kriminalidad,” he said.

(The police have the support of the Duterte administration even now that we are in danger with legal harassment and counter-charges because of our intensified campaign against drugs, crime, and corruption. Don’t you feel a boost of morale now that everyone is helping us? Everyone wants us, the PNP, to succeed in our campaign against drugs and crime.)

READ: ‘Bato’ to cops coddling drug lords: Surrender in 48 hours or die

In a press briefing, Dela Rosa gave his word of assurance to policemen who are upright and are just doing their jobs.

“Gusto ko po iparating ko sa inyo na kung ikaw ay isang pulis na matino at nagtatrabaho, hindi po kayo pababayaan,” he said.

(I want to tell you all that if you are a police who is doing his job properly, you won’t be neglected.)

He also rallied his men to continue on with its fight against drugs, as many drug suspects have already surrendered and died.

“Sulong! The momentum is on our side; we cannot afford to waste this momentum. Marami na po, libu-libo na po ang nagsu-surrender. Marami na po ang namamatay, so ano pa, hihinto tayo?” Dela Rosa said.

(Onward! The momentum is on our side; we cannot afford to waste this momentum. There have been so many, thousands, that have surrendered. Many have died, do we stop now?)

The PNP chief issued these pronouncements after Senator Leila de Lima said that she intends to launch an investigation into the killings of drug suspects.

De Lima, who is set to become the chair of the Senate committees on justice and human rights, said that her inquiry seeks to come up with operational guidelines for law enforcement agencies.

READ: De Lima calls for inquiry into spate of drug killings

In the same press briefing, Solicitor General Jose Calida said that his office will be the PNP’s first line of defense and added that PNP personnel can snub any Senate or congressional inquiry on the rising body count of drug suspects.

“I am here to encourage the PNP not to be afraid of any congressional or senate investigations. We will defend them. If there is a ‘fiscalizer,’ I am the neutralizer and the defender of the PNP. So huwag kayo matakot, mga pulis and other operatives. Marami na po tayong batas (So don’t be afraid, police and other operatives. We have many laws). There is no need for investigation in aid of legislation kuno,” Calida said. JE

READ: SolGen Calida vows to protect cops amid spate of drug suspect deaths

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