Bato says Indonesian medal of honor inspires him to exert more effort in war vs. drugs

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday said that the Medal of Honor he received from the Indonesian National Police has inspired him to exert more effort in the government's campaign against illegal drugs.

The INP has officially conferred on Dela Rosa its highest award, the Bintang Bhayangkara Utama, or Medal of Honor.

In a video message from Indonesia, Dela Rosa expressed his gratitude to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and to INP Police General Tito Karnavian.

"Thank you for this award and this will inspire me more to exert more effort in our drug war. According to general Tito, he would like to thank General Bato for the rockstar-like inspiration to the Indonesian Police and Indonesian people on how to fight the war on drugs," he said.

"...This is doubly significant for me because this is being given out to me or conferred to me during Valentine's Day, so sa inyong lahat diyan sa Pilipinas, happy Valentine's sa inyong lahat," he added.

WATCH: PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expresses gratitude to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Indonesian National Police chief Tito Karnavian for conferring him the “Bintang Bhayangkara Utama” or Medal of Honour. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/zVNUbdF60F

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) February 14, 2018

Karnavian said that Dela Rosa was the first non-Indonesian government official to receive the Medal of Honor.

"To the very famous and popular General Bato: thank you for your rockstar-like inspiration to the Indonesian national police and the Indonesian people on how to fight the war on drugs," he said.

"This is the first time that the Indonesian government granted the highest award the state can give, the Medal of Honor, the Bintang Bhayangkara Utama, to a non-Indonesian official," he added.

Dela Rosa is set to return in the Philippines on Thursday. — BM, GMA News