‘Bato’ ultimatum: I’ll quit if crimes not reduced after 6 months

Incoming PNP head Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa. JAYMEE T. GAMIL/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the incoming chief of the Philippine National Police, vowed to resign if he fails to suppress drugs and crime in the country within six months—a promise also made by his boss, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“I am ready to face the consequences after six months kapag hindi ko nagawa ang (dapat kong) gawin (if I am not able to do what I am supposed to do),” Dela Rosa said in an interview over DZMM on Friday.

“I’ve said before that I’ll surrender (to my superior if I fail): ‘Please replace me sir. I failed you and the people.’”

READ: Prospective PNP chief does a Duterte, says drug lords will be killed

Dela Rosa, who is as tough-talking as Duterte, said his resignation will be irrevocable.

He said he will not be like other erring PNP officials to cling on to their position for power and money.

“Hindi naman ako (kagaya) ng mga opisyal dyan na kapit-tuko sa mga pwesto nila. May delicadeza naman ako,” he said.

(I am not like other officials who leech on their positions. I have pride.)

Asked where he would base the success of his anti-drug and -criminality drive, Dela Rosa said this would be proven mainly through crime statistics and through the pulse of the people and the media.

“Kung kita niyo na failure ako (If you think that I am a failure), then I will step down,” he said.

READ: ‘Bato’ to drug lords: Leave PH; you have nowhere to hide here

Since the early days of the election campaign, Duterte had waged war against illegal drugs and criminality. This made him popular among the electorate, winning the presidential race by a landslide with more than P16 million votes.

The outgoing Davao City Mayor then tapped Dela Rosa, also a former Davao City Police official, to take over the 160,000-strong police force. IDL