Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in a media interview at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Regional police officials are facing the possibility of being relieved from their posts if they would not step up efforts in their campaign against illegal drugs, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa warned Wednesday.
After meeting with police directors from different regions on Tuesday, Dela Rosa warned the officials that they will be replaced if they would fail to solve the drug problem in their areas four months from now.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s marching orders to the PNP is to rid the country of illegal drugs and criminality within three to six months.
READ: Duterte vows to end drug menace, criminality in six months
“They have to double time, triple time their efforts because we are already almost two months less from our six-month timeframe,” Dela Rosa said.
“Some of them are lagging behind so they have to up tempo their efforts otherwise, magkatanggalan ito (there will be layoffs). I will relieve them if they cannot measure up to our expectations,” he said.
READ: PNP told to triple efforts in drug war
Asked which among the regions were underperforming, Dela Rosa said Metro Manila police was “barely passing,” as well as in the regions of Bicol and Western Visayas.
Based on the records of the PNP’s monitoring on “Oplan Double Barrel” from July 1 to August 12, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) tallied 148 drug suspects killed while 1,251 individuals were arrested. Metro Manila cops also visited 36,483 houses to ask drug pushers and users to surrender to the authorities.
Bicol Regional Police recorded 23 drug-related deaths and 448 arrests. Bicol cops visited 11,668 houses under Project Tokhang.
Meanwhile, Western Visayas police recorded the least number of neutralized suspects with three individuals killed in antidrug operations with 226 arrests. Police there visited 24,886 houses.
The police chief said from the time he assumed office on July 1, he had reminded the officials that their appointment will be “on a contractual basis.”
Asked to explain, Dela Rosa said: “Meaning, renew natin after three months. Kapag hindi ka nakapasa sa standard natin, hindi na kita ire-renew (If you do not meet our standards, I will not renew you). You have to go. Palitan kita (I will replace you).” IDL
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