‘Bato’ lambasts ‘biased’ media reporting on PH war on drugs

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa lambasted “biased” local and international media outlets attempting to undermine the efforts of the Duterte administration and the police to win the war against illegal drugs.

“Prankahan tayo, mayroong mga biased, hindi lang sa local, pati sa international media outlets. Ang nakikita lang nila ‘yung masamang nangyayari,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference at Camp Crame on Wednesday.

(Let’s be frank, there are biased local and international media outlets. They just focus on the bad things.)

He accused the media of turning a blind eye to the achievements of the PNP, which is at the forefront of the government’s intensified campaign on drugs.

“‘Yung kabutihan na nangyayari sa Pilipinas na dulot sa nangyari sa war on drugs hindi po nila binabalita. Ang binabalita lang nila kung ano ‘yung masama, kahit ‘yung maliit na masamang makita nila, pinapalaki nila. ‘Yung napakalaking kabutihan ngayon, hindi nila pinapakita. That’s how biased these people are,” he added.

(They don’t report on the good things happening in the Philippines due to war on drugs. They only focus on the bad, they even make a big deal out of it. They don’t show the greater good.)

Dela Rosa was apparently referring to a report from international news agency Reuters, which said that the US State Department halted the planned sale of 27,000 rifles of US to the PNP due to alleged human rights violations in the country.

READ: ‘Bato’ to US State Dep’t, senator: ‘Bahala sila sa buhay nila’

The police chief earlier read the letter from the weapons supplier, saying the licenses for the 27,394 M4 rifles are still “undergoing the normal process” in the US State Department.

READ: PNP rifles deal not halted, Dela Rosa clarifies

Dela Rosa also scored media organizations which only report on the killings of drug suspects fighting the policemen.

“Pumunta ka sa ibang lugar sa Metro Manila kung saan may bentahan ng droga, people there feel safe right now. Bakit hindi ‘yan binabalita?”
“Bakit ang binabalita ‘yung pusher na namatay dahil lumaban sa pulis? Dahil sa ikakasira ng admin, ng government? Iyan ba purpose natin? Sana magtulungan tayo,” he said.

(When you go to other places in Metro Manila where drug transactions take place, people there feel safe right now. Why don’t the media report it? Why are they only reporting on the drug pusher who died fighting the police? To criticize the admin and the government? Is that our purpose? I hope we cooperate.)

Dela Rosa called on the media to stop sowing disunity among Filipinos with its biased reporting.

“Sana tayong mga Pilipino, tayo ay magkaisa. ‘Yung bansa natin nasasaktan. Imbis na tayo magsama sama, nagkakawatak watak tayo. I-build up natin image natin hindi ‘yung sisiraan natin ang Pilipinas,” he said.

(As Filipinos, we should unite, Our country has been hurt. Instead of uniting, we break apart. We should build up Philippines’ image and not destroy it.)

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