Leni reprises Jesse’s words, reminds Bato of risks of fighting criminals
Photo courtesy of Vice President Leni Robredo media bureau
WHAT former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said before the police about the risks cops face in line of duty months before he died reminded Vice President Leni Robredo of Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa.
The Vice President on Monday addressed the PNP for the first time on the fourth anniversary of the PNP’s Center for Police Strategy Management (CPSM) office, a police strategy unit Jesse had helped established when he was still the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief.
Reading a portion of Jesse’s speech during the PNP’s New Year’s Call in January 2012, Robredo said it reminded her of the dangers and temptations de la Rosa are facing amid the intensive drug war being launched by the police under the Duterte administration.
She praised de la Rosa and all members of the 160,000-strong police force for answering the call of duty despite many obstacles.
“Kung naalala po ninyo, binanggit nya ito sa kanyang huling ‘New Year’s Call’ dito rin sa Camp Crame, noong January 2012. Marahil po marami sa inyo ay narinig ang kanyang speech,” the Vice President said.
Article continues after this advertisement“Ang sabi niya: ‘Serving the country by opting to make reforms and making people accountable for their actions is often lonely. There’s resistance. There’s opposition from those who are used to mediocrity. You might even face hostility from those who intend to do wrong. It is not possible to accept responsibility, power or authority and say you don’t want the risks that go along with them,’” she read.
Article continues after this advertisement“Naalala ko po si General Bato sa sinabing iyan ni Jesse. Kasi noong Biyernes, sinabi niya sa kanyang speech na inaalok siya ng malaking pera ng mga tao sa illegal gambling operations. Totoo pong maraming tukso at panganib ang inyong trabaho. Lubos akong humahanga sa iyo at sa lahat ng mga pulis na hindi tumatakas sa kanilang tungkulin,” said Robredo.
In his speech at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) last Friday, de la Rosa admitted that he once almost accepted the offer of gambling lords giving bribe money worth millions in exchange for protection. He said like any other person “I also need money.”
But he said he later turned down the offer after he consulted with Duterte if he could accept the money. Duterte advised the police chief not to accept it because it would affect the government’s drive against illegal gambling.
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