Philippine National Police (PNP) Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he was just “trying to follow orders” when he gave a new assignment to Supt. Marvin Marcos.
Marcos was among the 19 policemen charged for the killing Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
At a joint hearing in the Senate on Wednesday, Senator Grace Poe asked why Marcos was given new assignment as officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Soccskargen (CIDG-12) despite his alleged involvement in the Espinosa killing.
READ: Bato flip-flops on Duterte influence in reassignment of Supt. Marcos
“Sabihin na natin na hindi sya na dismiss, e yung i-reinstate ba naman nyo, OIC pa rin ng CIDG, ano ba naman yun? Wala na kayong ibang makuha?” Poe asked.
“I’m trying to follow orders, your honor,” Dela Rosa said.
“So who gave you the orders to reinstate him (Marcos) in that particular position?” Poe asked again.
“The President always intimated to me, whenever we talk, he said that kung pwede nang patrabahuhin yang mga taong yan kung wala ng nagba-bar sayo, pagtrabahuhin mo na yan,” the police chief said.
Duterte felt concerned that Marcos and his co-accused were receiving salaries without putting in the work, Dela Rosa explained.
Dela Rosa earlier said during the same hearing that Duterte gave no orders to him to either absolve or penalize Marcos.
Still not satisfied with Dela Rosa’s answer, Poe pressed why the former did not advise Duterte against reinstating Marcos.
The police chief said he tried to tell the President to let the issue subside first but Duterte continued his public pronouncements that Marcos should return to work.
“Ako naman, your honor, I take it as an order from my boss although hindi nya directly sinasabi na ilagay mo doon, pabalikin mo,” Dela Rosa said.
After Duterte’s pronouncements, Dela Rosa said he then asked the CIDG director where he could assign Marcos.
“On my part naman your honor, I take it as a challenge na pag binigyan ko ng tsansa itong tao na magtrabaho, at gumawa na naman ng kalokohan, then ako na mananagot nyan, your honor,” the police chief said.
“Please give me one more chance. Pag gumawa pa ito ng kalohohan, I will take it personally against him (Marcoss),” he added. CBB