Dela Rosa to 3 police generals allegedly linked to illegal drugs: “Face the music”

Photo: Kiwi Bulaclac/ PPD

MANILA—Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Wednesday advised the three active police generals allegedly linked to illegal drugs to face the accusations thrown against them.

Dela Rosa made the statement after meeting with the accused police officials, namely Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 Director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, former National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Police Director Joel Pagdilao and former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Edgardo Tinio.

”I gave them the assurance na kahit na upper class ko sila I am their father right now, as the father I have to look for their welfare. kung meron man silang kasalanan nagawa then they have to face the music,” he explained.

He said Diaz was the first to visit him in the White House, the Chief PNP’s official residence.

After meeting with Diaz, Dela Rosa met with Pagdilao and Tinio.

However, Dela Rosa said the subject of his meeting with the three generals is purely confidential.

”Malungkot sila and they want to explain their side and I listened to their side yung aming mga usapan sa loob purely intimate and personal. I cannot discuss it in public amin na lang yun yung aming personal na relationship,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

Dela Rosa said the three generals wanted to clear their names and assured him that they will fully cooperate with any investigation.

The PNP Chief said he already forwarded the case of the three generals to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for investigation.

“They will be reporting to Napolcom,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said despite the involvement of generals in illegal drugs on the announcement of President Duterte , the morale of the PNP remain very high adding that the consider the incident as morale booster.

“Itoy pagsubok lamang, lilipas din ito, high morale kami,” he said.

”Morale booster not only to the PNP but to the whole nation strong message na sinasabi nya (President Duterte) na wala akong sinasanto kahit sino kayo sabi nya kahit anak ko kapag involved sa drugs patayin ninyo so wala syang kyeme,” he added.

He noted that the PNP provided intel to the President but not only from the PNP all government agencies.

”The President can have the access to all intelligence information na nakalap dito sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa. He is the president. Yung kanyang information hindi lang nanggaling sa PNP, hindi lang ISAFP, lahat ng mga government agencies na may intelligence department so the president has all the access and all the information,” he explained.

During the 69th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte publicly tagged the five police generals as involved in illegal drugs.

Diaz, Tinio, Pagdilao and Mayor Loot already denied the allegation against them saying that the President must be misinformed.

Pagdilao and Tinio said they are willing to face investigation and undergo lie detector test and lifestyle check.