Did President Rodrigo Duterte influence Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to bring Superintendent Marvin Marcos and his group back to service or not?
If earlier in the hearing he said Duterte did not meddle in the decision on Marcos, Dela Rosa later revealed that it was the President who told him to bring back Marcos and his men to service because it would be a waste as the erring cops were being paid without working.
The Senate committees on public order and drugs, and justice and human rights are jointly holding an inquiry on the controversial reinstatement of Marcos and 18 other cops charged for the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Earlier Dela Rosa told the Senate panel: “Your honor kung basehan natin ‘yung pinagsasabi ni Presidente, your honor, it has not affected our decision. Because for the record, your honor, he (Duterte) did not call me up to give instructions whether to absolve or to penalize Marcos. Hindi po s’ya nakialam your honor.”
(Your honor, if we base it on the pronouncements of the President, your honor, it has not affected our decision. Because for the record, your honor, he did not call me up to give instructions whether to absolve or to penalize Marcos. He did not meddle.)
READ: Bato: Duterte did not meddle in decision to reassign Supt. Marcos
Dela Rosa said the PNP’s decision to reassign Marcos as the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Soccskargen (CIDG-12) was “independent of Duterte’s pronouncements on the TV.”
But during Senator Bam Aquino’s interpellation, Dela Rosa said: “Your honor, kapag naguusap kami ni President, he’s always intimating to me na sayang ang sweldo nila (Marcos and his group). Pag-trabahuin mo na ‘yan.”
(Your honor, whenever the President and I talk, he’s always intimating to me that it is a waste that Marcos and his group continue to be paid. That I should just make them work.)
He said he saw no reason to disobey President Duterte’s order because Marcos and his group, anyway, are in full duty status.
Asked by Aquino if he believes that there were irregularities in the operation against Espinosa, Dela Rosa said: “We believe na merong hindi magandang mangyari kaya sinunspend siya at mga kasamahan niya dinemote one rank kasi may liability sila. But ‘yung pagbalik sa kanila sa pwesto, ibang usapan na ‘yun. Technically they can be deployed because they are in full duty status. So the order of President na pagtrabahuin mo na ‘yan, sayang sweldo; walang ginagawa at lugi ang gobyerno. I see no reason for me not to obey the orders of President.”
(We believe that something irregular happened, that’s why he was suspended, and his cohorts were demoted by one rank because they had a liability. But their return to service is another topic. Technically, they can be deployed because they are in full duty status. So the order of the President to make them work because they are getting paid anyway, I don’t think the government did anything irregular there. I see no reason for me not to obey the orders of President.) IDL