PNP didn’t achieve ‘total victory’ in war on drugs: Bato

FILE: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday admitted they did not achieve the “total victory” on the campaign against illegal drugs of the Duterte administration. (PNA photo)

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday admitted they did not achieve the “total victory” on the campaign against illegal drugs of the Duterte administration.

However, Dela Rosa said that based on his assessment, the PNP was “triumphant” because they were able to dismantle the drug laboratories in the country and the supply of drugs is now almost depleted.

The PNP chief noted that it was “very challenging” for them to lead the “war on drugs”.

Nevertheless, Dela Rosa said the PNP had big contribution in the campaign where they had allotted 100 percent of their resources in order to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

Likewise, the PNP chief divulged that he was called by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte two days before the memorandum was issued designating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as “sole agency” in charge of the campaign against drugs.

Dela Rosa said he was told by the President that they should now rest in their “war on drugs”.

He told the President that the policemen are already tired in the operations against drug personalities.

The PNP chief stressed that the President only followed the law when he gave PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) the responsibility to lead the anti-drug operation.

Dela Rosa added that the President did not say when the authority to lead the drug operations would be returned back to the PNP.