Dela Rosa says ‘ninja cops’ issue affected him because he endorsed Albayalde

While President Rodrigo Duterte did not confront him on the controversy involving resigned Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said he was still affected by the issue because he was the one who endorsed the latter to be his successor.

“Hindi naman kailangan sabihin pero apektado pa rin ako kahit paano dahil ako pa rin nagrecommend,” Dela Rosa said Tuesday.

“Hindi ako sinisi ng harap-harapan pero nasa isip nya, 'T—ina itong si Bato, siya nagrecommend.’ Alam ko naman ‘yun mag-isip. Wala naman siyang sinabi sa akin pero alam ko kung ano ang nasa isip niya,” he added.

He also admitted that he became wary in making any recommendations for the next PNP chief.

“Hindi niya [Duterte] ako tinatanong kaya hindi ako nagsasabi pero kapag tatanungin niya ako hindi pa rin ako magsasabi dahil sabihin niya biased ka,” he said.

“Baka sabihin niya [Duterte] tinanggap ‘yang si Albayalde dahil inendorso ko kaya ngayon baka kapag nag-endorso ako, ako naman masisi, kaya ayoko na,” he added.

Dela Rosa then said that he has "no regrets" in endorsing Albayalde because the latter performed well during his stint as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief.

“No regrets ako sa pagpili kay Albayalde na mag-replace sa akin dahil he did his best, he was just haunted by his past. Basta ako ang binasehan ko sa pag-recommend sa kanya is his performance during his stint in NCRPO which he [performed] very well,” he said.

“In fairness, nu’ng nag chief PNP siya he performed very well din, ‘yun nga lang nakalkal ang kanyang past that led to his downfall,” he added, referring to the surfacing of the alleged ninja cops issue when Albayalde was Pampanga provincial director.

The senator also said that he does not want to make another recommendation this time because the three contenders—Deputy Chief for Operations Police Lieutenant General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, Chief of Directorial Staff Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, and PNP OIC Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa—are close to him.

“All the contenders are very close to me. General Archie Gamboa, isang magaling na opisyal, mistah ko, company mate ko sa PMA, at pareho kaming taga-Davao. Si General Cascolan, mistah ko rin, mabait, napakasipag. He worked very well as my director for operations. Siya ‘yung nag-experience sa Oplan Tokhang. Both of them are very deserving. Si General Eleazar, nakita ko rin ang performance niya sa QCPD at NCRPO. Puro maganda ang ginagawa, very close din sa akin,” he said.

“Hindi rin ako makapili pero may isa ako sa puso, ayaw ko sabihin. Ang nasa puso ko silang tatlo,” he added. — BM, GMA News