PMA honors Dela Rosa with testimonial parade

PHOTO by JHOANNA BALLARAN/INQUIRER.net

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City—The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Monday honored outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa through a testimonial parade and review as he retires from his three-decade service.

Dela Rosa, a member of the PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986, will be officially retiring on Thursday, April 19 after his 21-month term as PNP chief.

In his speech, Dela Rosa thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for giving him the “biggest break” in his career, noting that he was the first police chief from the province and who hails from Mindanao.

He also thanked the PMA for educating him and contributing to his success.

“What a journey it has been. It all started here at the PMA grounds, and as I am winding up my service, I am also ending it here. Thank you PMA for making me what I am today,” he said.

Dela Rosa has served in the PNP for 36 years. He was the executive officer of the Directorate for Personnel and Resource Management before he was promoted as the country’s top cop by President Duterte.

He was the 21st chief of the PNP.

He has led the Duterte administration’s bloody crackdown against illegal drugs, which is believed to have killed thousands of suspected drug criminals since July 2016.

He was supposed to retire from service in January but was extended twice by the President.

Dela Rosa will be replaced by his mistah at the PMA, National Capital Region Police Office chief Dir. Oscar Albayalde.

The retiring police chief will then lead the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), wherein he is set to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the country’s jails.

He, however, said that he wanted to take a break from work first before assuming his new position.

Dela Rosa’s name is also being floated as one of the administration’s bet in the upcoming senatorial elections. /je