PNP chief ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa shows lighter side at arms show

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa may have the monicker “Bato,” but he showed on Thursday his wacky side while attending a defense and sporting arms show in Mandaluyong City.

Dela Rosa apologized for his tardiness after coming from Trece Martirez, Cavite where he and officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency burned some P1.77 billion worth of seized illegal drugs. 

“Pasensiya na po at na-late ako. Supposed to be nandito ako 10 o'clock but I just came from Cavite. Nagsunog po kami doon ng maraming shabu, yung shabu na nahuli namin doon sa Claveria, Cagayan. Sinunog namin kanina kaya medyo high pa ako ngayon,” he said much to the crowd's delight.

Among the illegal drugs burned in Cavite were the 180 kilograms of shabu found buried inside a resort in the town of Claveria in Cagayan on July 3. 

Who wants shabu?

Dela Rosa, the guest of honor at the 24th AFAD Defense and Sporting Arms Show, went on inviting anyone interested in shabu to check the few grams that fell on his shoe.

“Sino gusto ng shabu? Kasi yung isa roon bago ko itinapon sa incinerator yung isang bag, may isa doon pala na-open. Pagtingin ko sa cellophane, nabuhos sa sahig, yung iba dito sa sapatos ko. Sino gusto kumuha sa sapatos ko? Ilang grams kaya yung nandito sa sapatos ko,” Dela Rosa said.

He also poked fun at Eastern Police District head Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula whose district encompasses the mall where the gun show was held.

“Dapat nandito ka palagi dahil ang daming armas dito. Pag na-raid ito ng mga kalaban at maubos ito, mananagot ka,” Dela Rosa said.

The PNP chief then focused his attention to Firearms and Explosives Office chief Sr. Supt. Cesar Binag when he called him an “incorruptible” official while he himself only had imperfections.

“Alam po ninyo itong si Colonel Binag, very incorruptible ito na tao. I am proud to say na ako man ay malinis, pero mas malinis talaga ito. Mayroon akong kaunting mga imperfection, lalo na kapag nakakita ng maganda,” Dela Rosa said which elicited laughter from the audience.

He added any attempt to corrupt Binag, who is also a pastor, would suffer the consequence of getting hit by the Bible.

“Si Binag, 'pag ito kino-corrupt ninyo he will throw the book at you. Hindi lang book kung hindi Bibliya talaga. Le-lecturan ka pa nito pag kino-corrupt mo,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa also highlighted the streamlining of the PNP on application for permits and licenses to carry firearms, from the normally 10 to 11 requirements now down to just four.

He echoed the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte to cut the long lines and processing fees needed to acquire government documents.

“Sabi ni Presidente, ilang beses na niya sinasabi 'yan, ayaw na ayaw ko yung mga tao na nagbabayad na pinapahirapan pa ninyo. Sabi niya ayaw niya mahaba yung linya,” Dela Rosa said.

Duterte was the guest speaker of the gun show in 2015 and whose portrait was flashed on the video screen during Dela Rosa's speech.

“Nandiyan pala si Presidente... Isipin niyo last year siya yung guest of honor/speaker, this year ako na,” Dela Rosa said after looking at Duterte's picture at his back. — RSJ, GMA News