Dela Rosa on bloodless drug war: That’s impossible

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

As cops resume to Oplan Tokhang on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa admitted that it is impossible for them to conduct the anti-drug operation without a bloodbath.

The PNP chief said he would resign from his post if there is an existing commander who could do the war on drugs without anyone getting killed.

“Bigyan n’yo ako ng kung sino pwede gawin yan, sinong commander ang pwede gumawa n’yan at I am willing to give up my post kung masabi n’yo merong tao dyan na pwedeng or maging successful tayo sa anti-drug na walang mamatay. That’s impossible (Tell me who can do that, who’s the commander that can do that and I am willing to give up my post if you can tell me that there’s a person who can make it or who can be successful in doing the operation without anyone getting killed. That’s impossible),” dela Rosa said in a press briefing.

“Basta kami (for us) we are just giving you the assurance na lahat ay gagawin namin talaga na maging less bloody itong ating anti-drug campaign (that what we are doing is to make the anti-drug campaign less bloody) because we are not dealing with tao na nasa tamang pag iisip (a person in his right mind),” he added.

Dela Rosa’s statement came after the remarks of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles asking the PNP to comply with proper procedures overhauled police operation and ensure that anti-drug activities this time around won’t “waste any lives.”

“We pray that the police follow the prescribed steps in implementing the law… steps that should be done in exercising their responsibility as policemen,” Valles was quoted as saying in an article posted on the CBCP website.

“Let us inspire them to follow the necessary steps when they need to apprehend and as much as possible, we make sure that we do not waste any lives,” he added.

However, dela Rosa defended that the cops’ response will depend on the action of the drug suspects.

“Alam mo naman ‘yang dugo na ‘yan (You know that blood) that’s dependent sa (to the) reaction ng mga (of the) drug personalities. Alangan naman pabayaan namin sarili namin na mamatay kami kung armado at makipagbarilan ‘yung drug personality (It would not be right if we just let ourselves die at the hands of an armed drug personality),” the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa stressed that if only the PNP can take over the minds of the drug personalities for them to raise their white flag to police, there would be no shed of blood during the Oplan Tokhang.

“Kung pwede natin susian ‘yung mga utak ng mga drug personalities na please huwag sana kayo maging violent, huwag kayong lumaban para walang dugo na dumanak sa ating anti-drug operations, mas maganda sana pero very volatile ang situation sa ground (If we can only control the minds of the drug personalities and tell them not to be violent, not to fight back so there will be no bloodshed in our anti-drug operations, it would be better but our situation in the ground is very volatile),” he said.

“Hindi talaga natin makontrol kaya merong (We cannot control that’s why there is a) drug problem and we are trying to address this problem,” he added.

The PNP chief also stressed that cops need to defend themselves from drug suspects who fight back.

“We also have to protect ourselves, preserve our own life, and life of the people that’s why I cannot give you 100 percent or foolproof anti-drug campaign na magiging (will be) bloodless,” dela Rosa explained.

The PNP returns on Monday its anti-illegal drug operations under the new guideline that requires strict observation of human rights.

The top cop said that he remains optimistic with the likelihood of “less bloody” anti-drug activities this time through following supplemental operational guidelines when doing law enforcement operations against drug suspects.