Bato: Drug ring members are killing each other

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald “Bato’ dela Rosa. NINO JESUS ORBETA

THE recent spate of killings in the country after President Duterte assumed office could not be blamed on the police but on the members of drug syndicates allegedly killing each other.

Maintaining that he is not tolerating vigilantism in the police, Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said drug lords are now hiring hitmen to kill small-time pushers to prevent them from squealing on their sources of drugs.

“I don’t encourage that vigilantism. As I’ve said, you cannot correct a mistake by making another mistake, ’di ba? Alam natin na yung pagtutulak at paggamit ng droga ay mali. Gagawan mo pa ng isang kamalian na papatayin mo yung involved d’yan? What will happen to us? Cycle of evil deeds?” Dela Rosa said on Thursday.

“It’s either there’s a vigilante group or vigilante personalities or itong mga sindikato nagpapatayan na sila,” he said.

Dela Rosa, who earlier witnessed the burning of P1.77 billion worth of confiscated drugs in Trece Martires City in Cavite, delivered a brief message at the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers (AFAD) gun show at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Dela Rosa recalled the story of a drug peddler who surrendered to him. The pusher learned that his  boss, a drug lord detained in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), wanted him killed.

“Natakot siya na papatayin siya ng drug lord sa Bilibid. Hindi na siya naka-remit ng pera dahil mahirap na distribution nila eh dahil extensive ating drug campaign. Kagagawan ’yan ng mga sindikato. Pinapapatay nila pag di nagreremit at syempre para di sila maturo,” he said.

In two months, close to 200 drug suspects were killed in police operations. But since Duterte was elected, the number of vigilante killings increased.

“I hate extrajudicial killings. I hate vigilantism. Ayaw na ayaw ko ’yan,” Dela Rosa said.

The police chief even challenged vigilante members to a gun duel.

“Hinahamon ko yang mga vigilante na ‘yan, magaling kayo pumatay ng mga taong nakatali ang kamay at nakapiring mata at bibig, binabaril niyo sa ulo. Eh nandito ako, kahit lima kayo dyan sabay tayo bunot ng baril,” he said.

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