PNP chief Bato: ASEAN chiefs of police happy with Duterte’s drug war

The chiefs of police of several other countries, mostly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are happy with the Duterte administration's war on drugs, PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa told reporters on Monday.

Indonesia, he said, even wants to copy the PNP’s Oplan Tokhang.

“I would like to inform you that all other chiefs of police na kasama ko doon, mostly coming from the ASEAN countries they are all very happy with what we are doing right now,” Dela Rosa said in a news conference.

The Philippines has drawn attention from the international media after President Rodrigo Duterte unleashed an all-out war against the illegal drug trade in the country.

More than 3,000 deaths have been attributed to the Duterte administration's war on drugs since it came to power in July.

“Like Indonesia, he is being pressured by people of Indonesia to copy what the Philippines is doing right now sa ating war on drugs particularly yung ating Oplan Tokhang. Sabi n’ung police commissioner nila doon which is equivalent ng chief PNP," Dela Rosa said.

"All other countries are congratulating us for what we are doing,” he added.

Dela Rosa returned on Sunday from Bangkok, where he attended the anniversary of the Royal Thai police.

The PNP chief said the Indonesian police official told him that they previously waged a war against illegal drugs but it waned when a new administration took over.

“Nagbago policy towards drugs, humina yung kampanya, ngayon gusto naman nila ibalik. So sabi nila parang nag-usap naman si President Joko Widodo at President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the war on drugs," Dela Rosa said.

"So they are awaiting the final instructions from their president,” he added.

Dela Rosa said the Philippines and Thailand had similar experience in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“Ganun din yung experience nila. Kausap ko yung chief ng Royal Thai Police, sabi niya during the time of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ang ganda daw ng kampanya nila against drugs. Talagang bumaba daw lahat ng krimen,” Duterte said.

He said the experience of other countries showed that the Philippines’ campaign would also succeed.

“Sa panahon daw ni Thaksin maganda daw ang resulta and they are very happy to inform us na maganda yung kinalabasan nung kanilang kampanya. Thaksin kasi was known parang iron fisted leader so the same with our president, he has iron fist against crimes and illegal drugs. So halos ganun lang rin,” Duterte said. —NB, GMA News