Bato apologizes for calling critics ‘ingrates’

FILE PHOTO: Philippine National Police (PNP) Directior General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday apologized for calling critics of the current administration’s war on drugs as “ingrates.” (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday apologized for calling critics of the current administration’s war on drugs “ingrates.”

In a press conference, Dela Rosa said that it was only a “spur of the moment reaction,” saying that he was just expressing distress and annoyance which he can no longer keep to himself.

“Pasensya na. It was a spur of the moment reaction nung tinanong ako kung ano ba ang masasabi ko sa critics…Spur of the moment reaction lang yun. Bakit di ba sila nakinabang sa ginagawa natin?….Yung mga anak nila nag aaral ng matiwasay, di naiistorbo ng snatcher, mga pusher sa kalsada [Sorry, it was a spur of the moment reaction when I was asked about my comment to the critics… It was just a spur of the moment reaction.  Do they not benefit from what we are doing?… Their children can study well without being disturbed by snatchers, pushers on the streets],” the PNP chief said.

According to a report from Balitanghali, Dela Rosa said that he was frustrated and saddened by the criticism.

“Hindi ako plastik, hindi ako politiko na magpapa-cute sa inyo na kahit galit na ayaw ipakita, kahit masama na yung loob ayaw ipapalabas yung damdamin [I’m not plastic, I’m not a politician who acts cute in front of everyone who, despite getting mad, still doesn’t want to show it],” he said.

“Normal lang ako na tao…minsan napipikon ako, tao lang ako eh, hindi man tayo plastik, eh sige lang basta at least magalit man ako, malungkot man ako, pero gingagawa pa rin namin yung trabaho namin [I’m a normal person, sometimes I’m quick-tempered. I’m also human. We’re not plastics. At least whenever I get angry or sad, we still do our jobs],” he added.

The PNP chief also clarified in his statement that they were not asking critics to be thankful to them for doing their duties and responsibilities.

“We are not requiring gratefulness or thanks from them. Masama lang loob ko pero ito ang trabaho namin. Wala kaming nire-require na kahit ano, gagampanan pa rin namin ang trabaho naming [We are not requiring gratefulness or thanks from them. I feel disappointed but this is our job. We don’t require anything, we still play our roles],” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa last week called the critics of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs as “ingrates,” saying that they also benefit from the “peace and order” brought by the campaign. His statement garnered criticisms from different sectors, including lawmakers who reminded him that public service is an unenviable job.