Bato: Mark my word, I will succeed vs. drug lords in Bilibid

With barely two weeks left before he relinquishes command to his successor, outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Tuesday once again vowed that he would end illegal drug trade inside the country’s national penitentiary.

"I will succeed, mark my work, I will succeed," Dela Rosa said.

"I will not give you the details but I tell you, mark my word, I will succeed. Hindi ako magpapatalo sa mga drug lord na 'yan, as to how I will do it, just (use) your wild imagination," he added.

In December last year, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will appoint Dela Rosa as director general of the Bureau of Corrections after his retirement.

Dela Rosa was supposed to retire on January 21 when he reached the mandatory age of 56 but the President extended his term for three months or until April 21.

Duterte on February 20 said he would extend anew the term of Dela Rosa with the latter saying that his extension is “indefinite.” However, it is not yet clear on why the second extension did not push through.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa reiterated that his first order as director general of the BuCor is the accounting of all drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison.

"I-account ko lahat ng drug lords, i-account ko kung nasaan na sila, then pa-swear ko sila sa Bible na 'wag na silang gumawa ng kalokohan dahil pag sila'y gumawa ng kalokohan, doble yung kasalanan nila, kasalanan dito sa lupa, kasalanan sa langit, diba," he said.

"Kung meron pa mang gumagawa ng kalokohan doon ngayon, I am not presuming, I am not assuming, and I am not prejudging them na gumagawa pa rin sila ng kalokohan, just n case kung meron pa mang gumagawa ng kalokohan in connivance with the jailed drug lords - stop it, before I will stop you," he added.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde is set to succeed Dela Rosa on April 19. Albayalde retires on November 8, 2019. — RSJ, GMA News