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‘PURO KAYO DAKDAK’

Bato dares Human Rights Watch to file case over drug war


Outgoing Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa dared international group Human Rights Watch to file a case against him in relation to its allegations on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“Mag-file kayo ng kaso kung talagang totoo ang sinasabi nyo. Puro kayo dakdak,” Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview on Wednesday during the Armed Forces of the Philippines change of command ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo.

Dela Rosa issued the challenge after HRW researcher Carlos Conde said the retiring cop “will leave behind a police force with a sordid human rights record unmatched since the Marcos dictatorship.”

While the Hague-based International Criminal Court has begun its preiminary examination into the thousands of killings in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign, Conde said there is also a “growing momentum inside the United Nations for a separate UN inquiry.”

“These developments suggest that sooner or later, Dela Rosa may be held to account for the bloody campaign he so zealously endorsed,” he said.

The tough cop, who is willing to face prosecution for his role, maintained that the 190,000-strong police force “can prove themselves” amid the allegations that many of the killings have been summary executions.

“Ang galing naman nilang magsabi ng gano'n. Gano'n ba sila kasigurado sa kanilang pinagsasabi? Kung sigurado sila, bahala sila. They can say whatever they want. Basta we can prove ourselves,” he said.

Dela Rosa also questioned critics why don't mention the deaths of policemen during encounters with drug personalities.

“Bakit ayaw nilang ibalita ang mga pulis ko na namatay sa engkwentro? Andaming pulis na namatay sa engkwentro. Bakit 'yung mga adik at pusher na namatay 'yan lagi pinagdadakdak?” he said.

Dela Rosa, who belongs to PMA "Sinagtala" Class of 1986, will be leaving his post on Thursday.

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

Dela Rosa is expected to take over the helm of the Bureau of Corrections after his stint at the PNP.

His mistah National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde is set to succeed him. —KG, GMA News

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