Cops would rather face raps than second-guess shooting suspects —Bato

Officers who find themselves in life-or-death situations during police operations would rather face criminal or administrative complaints than second-guess themselves if they have to shoot or not, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said on Thursday.

Dela Rosa, the former chief of the Philippine National Police, said this was the mind-set of police officers who are being fired at by suspected criminals.

"Binabaril ako ng taong ito, hindi ko 'to pwede barilin dahil may bata? Kung hindi naman ako magreturn fire, ako naman ang mamamatay... So you have to protect yourself, to defend yourself," Dela Rosa said at a gun show in Mandaluyong.

"For practical purposes, ang mindset ng pulis ganyan 'yan. Harapin ko na lang kaso afterwards, importante buhay ako," he added.

"Dahil kung ako'y mamatay, walang human rights na magpapakain sa aking mga anak. Walang human rights na magpapaaral sa aking mga anak," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa admitted that he had been advising policemen that they always needed to survive police operations.

"Harapin ko na lang kaso afterwards, importante buhay ako. 'Yan ang palaging mindset ng pulis which lagi kong inaadvise sa kanila. You should survive by all means. Wag kang pakahero-hero diyan na magpakamatay..." Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa's remark was in relation to the death of three-year old Myca Ulpina during a drug buy-bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal last June 29.

Police conducted a buy-bust operation targeting Myca's father Renato Ulpina and another drug suspect.

Police claimed Ulpina used his daughter Kateleen Myca Ulpina as a human shield during the shootout but the victim’s family and a witness denied this.

Dela Rosa recently drew flak after saying that "shit happens" when he was asked about the Rodriguez incident.

The senator later apologized and admitted that he chose the wrong words. —NB, GMA News