MANILA – The incoming chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to pursue an all-out war against criminality and illegal drugs under the administration of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte.
This was stressed by Chief Superintendent Ronald Marapon de la Rosa, who was picked by Duterte to be the next PNP chief.
De La Rosa, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986 hails from Davao City where he also once served as the chief of police, and partnered with Duterte in crushing criminality in the area.
He is known to have led countless major anti-crime operations in the city which included a number of gun battles that left heavily-armed kidnappers, robbers and drug traffickers dead.
Dela Rosa is currently the executive officer of the PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.
“Nagpapasalamat ako. Kahit sino piliin nya, masaya pa rin ako. What’s important is manalo sya bilang Presidente,” De la Rosa said, who was relieved as brigade commander of Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) after he post for expressing support for Duterte and reminded that he will crush those who plan to cheat in the May 9 presidential and national elections on his social media accounts
Aside from De la Rosa, Duterte’s other choices for the PNP’s top post were Chief Supt. Ramon Apolinario, officer-in-charge of the Mimaropa Region, and Sr. Supt. Rene Aspera, chief of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group.
All three police officials have all worked with the presumptive president as former chief of Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
Dela Rosa said that the last time he talked with the incoming President was on May 15 and talk about focus on anti-criminality campaign especially to eradicate the illegal drugs.
“Patayan sa drugs. patayan talaga ito sa drugs kaya kayong mga drug lord dyan humanda na kayo talagang sasagasaan ko kayo. (And) for the criminals we will not only crush you, we will bury you,” he noted, as one of his biggest accomplishments was the rescue of a kidnap victim from Metro Manila who was brought all the way to Davao City by her abductors.
Dela Rosa said that he will follow the orders given to him by presumptive president Duterte.
“Ang marching order sa akin is forward march. Ibig sabihin walan atrasan abante. walang sagasaan dapat sagasaan” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The center piece of the Duterte administration is peace and order and the plan to reduce criminality within the time frame of three to six months.
Since most crime incidents are drug-related, Dela Rosa assured he will exert numerous efforts to eliminate illegal drugs.
“Kakayanin natin. Hindi pwedeng chief PNP ka, di mo kakayanin… mahirap man kasi magsalita ng patapos. basta we will do everything within 3 to 6 months na meron talagang mangyayari. mahirap yung magset ka kaagad ng objective na ganito kataas tapos hindi mo kaya. talagang gagawin namin lahat ng gagawin namin,” De la Rosa said on Duterte’s promise to stamp out crime in three to six months.
He wants to accomplish the three-to-six month campaign and he expects that his upperclassmen will obey him.
“Dapat cooperative sila,” he noted.
Dela Rosa clarified that no one will be above the law in his leadership in the PNP and will fire any police officials involved in illegal drugs.
“Paano ka maglilinis sa bahay ng iba kung sariling bahay mo marumi? Lahat ng pulis na involved sa drugs lumayas na kayo. Binabayaran kayo ng gobyerno para manghuli ng mga drug personalities ngayon tumatanggap din kayo sa mga drug lords.” Dela Rosa stated.
He refused to name officials that will be under investigation for illegal drugs when he assumes the PNP Chief post.
Under Republic Act 6975 or the law establishing the PNP, any police official with the rank of Chief Superintendent or higher may qualify for appointment as PNP chief.
According to PNP spokesman, Chief Supt. Wilben M. Mayor said that it would be the prerogative of the president to choose his PNP chief, adding that the organization looks at the procedure professionally and objectively.