Bato dela Rosa upset with Angeles cops ‘starstruck’ with Mark Anthony

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the viral picture of two policewomen with detained actor Mark Anthony Fernandez, a drug suspect.

The cops had their picture taken with Fernandez at the Angeles City police station after his arrest on Monday night.

“Personally ako, I don't like that picture because as law enforcers, ano ba, na starstruck ka pa rin sa isang criminal offender, di ba? Meaning hinuli siya di ba he is a suspect at ngayon magpapapicture ka pa doon?” Dela Rosa said.

He said he would remind the police officers to refrain from having picture with arrested suspects even if they were celebrities.

“Yung mga tao, lalong lalo na yung normal na criminal offenders baka sabihin nila that there is a double standard sa policy na ginagawa natin, sa law enforcement na ginagawa natin," Dela Rosa said.

"Sa ordinaryong drug user or pusher eh saksak agad doon sa selda eh pag itong artista eh nagpapaselfie pa yung mga pulis,” he added.

Dela Rosa said he wanted to get the explanation of the two police officers.

“I still have to get their explanation but right now hindi ko gusto yung ginawa nila. I have to remind them that dapat hindi ganon. That’s tantamount to conduct unbecoming of a police officer,” Dela Rosa said.

But he said he understood them somehow.

“Naiintindihan ko rin naman ang aking policewomen dahil nakalimutan siguro nila na sila ay pulis, na-overwhelm lang sila, nangibabaw sa kanila yung kanilang pagka movie fan siguro,” Dela Rosa said.

“Naiintindihan ko ang kanilang pagiging starstruck dahil marmami ring tao ang nai-starstruck sa akin,” he added laughing.

Asked if charges would be filed against the two, Dela Rosa said he would refer the matter to the Internal Affairs Service.

“Tanungin ko sila kung ano nalalabag nila na policies, ano nalalabag nila na batas,” he Dela Rosa said.

PNP Central Luzon regional director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino said the two female police officers did not commit any violation but they would be reminded to be more prudent with their actions.

“Wala namang violation. But pagsasabihan ko sila na hindi proper magpapicture sa isang suspect. Nagkataon lang naman kasi na celebrity ‘yung suspect. Hindi naman nila yun sinasadya,” Aquino said in a text message to reporters.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said the PNP would look into the existing regulations of the PNP to adapt with the present time.

“Ire-review namin kung ano nagiging policy sa training service. Possibly baka kailangan sumabay sa kasakuluyang teknolohiya ang regulasyon ng PNP,” Carlos said.

“Titingnan natin ang the existing regulation ng PNP pertaining sa ganito, kase nga nasa social media na yan. We will check with the training service, yung pagkakaroon ngayon ng social media. Noong panahon namin wala pang ganyan e,” he added.

A report by Jun Veneracion in Balitanghali on Wednesday said that the officers had their photos taken with Fernandez after he underwent profiling in Station 6.

Fernandez is currently detained at the Angeles City police Station 6 after cops found a kilo worth of marijuana in his car at a checkpoint on Monday night.

While the policewomen admitted taking photos with the 37-year-old actor, the women said they did not post the photos on their social media accounts.

It was found out that a barangay official who managed to enter the room was the one who took the photo and posted it online. —NB, GMA News