Bato dela Rosa to cops: God is watching, do not plant evidence

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday told police officers to stop the practice of planting evidence on drug suspects even with their frustration on hardened criminals.

Dela Rosa warned that God is watching and there would be a time of reckoning for those who do wrong.

“Iwasan n’yo na ‘yung style na taniman ng droga ‘yung suspect dahil gusto n’yo kaagad na ma- eliminate sa scheme ng drug business,” Dela Rosa said in his speech at the 116th Police Service Anniversary in Central Visayas.

“Dahil kayo ay pagod na, alam n’yo y’ang taong iyan ay labas-masok sa kulungan, sige lang huli tapos ngayon gusto n’yong mahuli, wala kayong makuha kaya taniman ninyo. Huwag n’yong gawin ‘yan. That is very bad. God is watching us. Merong maniningil,” he added.

The PNP chief said it would be best for police officers to always put their heart into their service.

“Mas maganda ‘yung kinasing kasing na trabaho at pagserbisyo,” Dela Rosa said.

The police organization is now under fire due to the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos. 

Delos Santos was killed on the night of August 16 after he allegedly tried to run away from policemen conducting an anti-drug operation in his community.

Police claimed that Delos Santos drew a .45 caliber pistol and fired at the officers. This allegedly prompted the policemen to shoot back and kill him.

Reportedly recovered from delos Santos were a .45 pistol and two sachets of suspected shabu with a street value of about P20,000.

His relatives, however, said the items did not belong to the teenager. Witnesses also said the cops' version of the events was not true.

A CCTV camera footage also showed that the cops appeared to be dragging Delos Santos before he was killed.

This appeared contrary to police's claims that he tried to flee the scene.

Two of the three policemen involved in Kian's case have already admitted that they indeed dragged Delos Santos as seen on the footage.

Police claimed Delos Santos was a drug runner for his father and an uncle, an allegation also denied by his relatives. —NB, GMA News