Bato to take the ‘toughest’ gov’t post after retirement

FILE: PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Photo: Philippine National Police/ Facebook)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will be filling a position he dubbed as “the most challenging” role in the administration.

Dela Rosa, who will be reaching his mandatory retirement age of 56 on January 21, will not be resting yet after revealing on Tuesday the President’s promise.

“Ewan ko, basta sinabihan ako ni Presidente, kung anong pupuntahan ko. Pero napakahirap na trabaho, the most challenging na trabaho sa buong gobyerno (I don’t know but the President told me where I will go. But it is a really difficult job, the most challenging job in the government),” Dela Rosa told the media.

Echoing President Rodrigo Duterte’s words in their conversation, he said, “’Where everyone failed, I expect you to succeed.”

The outgoing PNP chief even asked the media to play a game guessing what this “challenging” job is.

“Napakabigat na trabaho niyan. Sige lang, imagine-in niyo na lang ano ‘yung pinakamahirap na trabaho. Napakahirap (It is a really heavy responsibility. Go ahead, just imagine what this really difficult job is. It is really difficult),” Dela Rosa emphasized, but did not really reveal what this post will be.

Dela Rosa also narrated that every time that he and Duterte met, the President mentioned how this agency had another problem again and again, which is why he kept on saying that it was a difficult job.

In spite of this, Dela Rosa said that he is willing to accept the appointment if ever the President officially asks him, since he does not “run away from challenges.”

“Lalong-lalo na ‘yung magbigay sa’kin ng challenge ay ‘yung tao na pinakarespetado [ko] (Especially if the person who gave me the challenge is the one I respect the most). Talagang I will take on the challenge,” he said.

“Hindi ko siya ipapahiya (I will not shame him),” Dela Rosa added.

He also chose to keep his mouth shut on whether Deputy General Ramon Apolinario will replace his PNP post or not.