Dela Rosa appointed first president of Anti-Crime Council of the Philippines

FILE: BuCor chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was appointed as the first president of the ACCP, tasked to battle all forms of criminality, by Federation of Philippine Industries chair Jesus Lim Arranza during the first Anti-Illicit Trade Summit held at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

The former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and now Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general was chosen to head the newly-formed multi-sectoral council Anti-Crime Council of the Philippines (ACCP).

BuCor chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was appointed as the first president of the ACCP, tasked to battle all forms of criminality, by Federation of Philippine Industries chair Jesus Lim Arranza during the first Anti-Illicit Trade Summit held at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City on Tuesday, May 29.

The newly-launched council is consisted of “government enforcement agencies, private business, civic groups, the academe and other non-government organizations.” The body, however, is yet to publish a list of its members.

Personalities who attended the ceremonial launch were PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Director Filemon Ruiz, and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

In a chance interview with reporters, dela Rosa assured that his responsibilities in the ACCP will not affect his work as the head of the BuCor.

“Hindi naman, kumbaga (No, because) this is an extracurricular activity from my basic na trabaho talaga sa gobyerno (work in the government) as director general of BuCor, so ito naman (this one) is on the side, so focused pa rin ako sa aking trabaho sa (I’m still focused on my work in the) BuCor,” dela Rosa was quoted as saying in a GMA report.

“May sarili akong problema sa (I have my own problem on) smuggling, smuggling of contrabands inside Bilibid, so ‘yan ‘yung sarili naming problema sa loob (that is our own problem inside),” he added.

He further said that he might bring his “Oplan Tokhang” in the fight against smugglers.

Dela Rosa stepped down as PNP chief last month after being at the forefront of the administration’s war against illegal drugs for almost two years. After he relinquished his post to Albayalde, he was assigned by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the BuCor, which houses convicts in the country.