Bato says police ‘scalawags’ fewer now

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Tuesday said the number of erring policemen has gone down despite the latest tirade of President Rodrigo Duterte against corrupt lawmen.

"I would like to report to everyone na sa ngayon, medyo bumababa na yung mga pulis na involved sa katarantaduhan, kumokonti na, ang basehan natin yung report sa CITF (Counter-Intelligence Task Force), yung text tsaka calls sa hotline... So maraming salamat sa kooperasyon ng lahat ng kapulisan," Dela Rosa said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Duterte during the 39th birthday celebration of Senator Manny Pacquaio in General Santos City warned police scalawags, saying he was "starting the purging" on those involved with corruption.

"At Wednesday, mga tatlong superintendent, about 90, siguro mga minimum of 60 police, umalis kayo sa PNP," Duterte said.

"I am starting the purging at huwag kayong mainsulto kung hindi ka naman tinatamaan, huwag kang magalit kasi ako galit na sa dati eh," he added.

Dela Rosa earlier said there were more than three police superintendents involved in either illegal drugs or corruption, adding that he would he ask the President regarding the matter.

"Ganun pa rin, case build-up tayo at kakasuhan 'pag may makuha tayong ebidensya," he said.

The PNP chief, meanwhile, reminded the police force not to lose hope amid reports on scalawag cops.

"Sa aking mga tauhan sa Philippine National Police, gusto ko lang ipaparating sa inyo yung aking taos-pusong pasasalamat sa inyong serbisyo na ibinigay sa ating bayan, alam ko marami kayo diyan mga tahimik lang, mga silent heroes na nagtatrabaho, ang masyado lang nabibigyang pansin yung mga scalawag natin na gumagawa ng katarantaduhan," Dela Rosa said.

"So please do not lose hope, our organization is not a hopeless case, magbago pa yang mga sira ulo na kasama natin, magbabago pa 'yan, kaya lang kailangan nating suportahan yung ating internal cleansing program without that, hindi magbabago yung ating mga kasamahan," he added.

'Very lonely at the top'

Dela Rosa, who is set to reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on January 21, 2018, sadmitted it was "very lonely" to be at the helm of the PNP.

"Very lonely pagdating sa taas dahil everybody is expecting something from you so you have to give it all, you have to give everything pati yung personal na buhay mo isakripisyo mo para sa pagiging chief PNP," he said.

"Mga anak ko ngayon tanong sa akin, 'dad, kailan mo kami samahan sa mall? bilhan mo kami ng regalo,' eh wala na, sabi ko, 'anak, grabe schedule ko, mahirapan tayo. Next year siguro 'pag retired na, pwede na tayo pasyal pasyal'," he added.

The President, however, said that he would extend Dela Rosa's term of duty by two to three more months, adding that he will also appoint him as the director general of the Bureau of Corrections afterwards. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/MDM, GMA News