PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday expressed frustration over suggestions that police officers who fail to solve suspected vigilante killings of drug personalities be relieved of their duties.
Asked by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV why police officials who were unable to solve extra-judicial slays were still at their posts, Dela Rosa said "Sana mag-order na si Presidente Duterte na itigil na ito [war on drugs]."
"Kami pagod na pagod na sa trabaho na ito. Sobrang pagod namin gusto ko na ihinto ito, ayoko na. Sana magsabi ang Presidente," Dela Rosa said.
In answer to Trillanes' question, Dela Rosa said all vigilante-style killings were classified as "death under investigation" cases. He said he was encouraging the police to fast-track their probe.
The PNP chief admitted that he indeed had the option to relieve police officials who failed to expediently solve vigilante-style killings. However, he said that doing so would be "unfair."
"Unfair sa amin kung tatanggalin ko iyong nasa death under investigation pero sa kabilang side, nakikita ko ang takbo nila. Natutuwa ang mga tao. Safe na sila sa kanilang tahanan," Dela Rosa said.
"Iba-balance ko po," he added.
Trillanes said he did not want Bato and the Duterte administration to stop its fight against illegal drugs, but merely wanted to find out why only small-time drug suspects seemed to be targeted by vigilante-style killings.
The senator cited how alleged drug lord and businessman Peter Lim was still able "to walk free," and Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who linked by the President to illegal drugs, was still able to return to his post.
"Iyong aking kampanya, walang pinipili, mayaman o mahirap ka man o burgis ka man," Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said the PNP had to release Espinosa after his surrender because the police had no warrant of arrest to continue holding him.
As to Espinosa returning to his post, Dela Rosa said the Department of Interior and Local Government, and not the police, should be asked about it.
Dela Rosa, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, is Trillanes' upperclassman in the PMA. Trillanes belongs to the PMA's Class of 1995.
source:gmanews
Post a Comment