‘Bato’ gets solid feedback from Poe: ‘He’s trustworthy, sincere’

PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Compared with others, Senator Grace Poe said she finds the tough-looking Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa trustworthy and more sincere.

This was how Poe responded to a listener’s question during an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 Tuesday night when asked if she trusts the PNP chief.

“Sa nakikita ko sa kanya meron naman akong tiwala dahil may lakas loob s’ya (Based on what I have observed, I trust him because he is confident),” she said.

“Alam mo marami na kasi kaming mga nakakausap sa Senado sa tingin ko naman mas tapat s’ya ikumpara mo sa mga iba na nakausap na namin (We talk to a lot of people in the Senate, but I believe he’s more sincere compared with the others we have talked to),” the senator added.

Reminded that de la Rosa’s predecessor, former PNP Chief Alan Purisima, seemed to be her “favorite,” Poe said: “Oo nga mukha namang teddy bear na mabait pero mahirap na communicator (he looks like a cute teddy bear who turns out to be a difficult communicator).”

The lady senator was among those who called for Purisima’s resignation, following the January 2015 Mamasapano incident that left 44 members of the PNP-Special Action Force and others killed. She also initiated the Senate probe on the incident as then chair of the committee on public order.

READ: Grace Poe calls for Purisima’s resignation

Poe said that unlike Purisima, dela Rosa was a good communicator as he cannot only articulate his programs, but he was also good at getting the sentiments of the people.

“Sa ngayon pinagkakatiwalaan ko s’ya (de la Rosa). Sa tingin ko naman ay sinsero s’ya sa kanyang mga mandato pero minsan naki-carried away din… (Right now, I can say that I trust him. I think he’s sincere with his mandate, although he tends to get carried away sometimes),” she said, referring to de la Rosa’s remark urging drug pushers and users to burn the houses of drug lords. The PNP chief later apologized for it. IDL

READ: Dela Rosa apologizes for remark on burning drug lords’ houses