Duterte on PNP chief crying: Naintindihan ko si Bato

President Rodrigo Duterte late Wednesday said he understood the emotional outburst of Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa at the Senate earlier in the day.

Dela Rosa cried during a Senate hearing after suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa's testimony of giving payola to several top police officials in Eastern Visayas. The police chief said he was overwhelmed after Senator Miguel Zubiri said it was up to him to clean up his ranks.

Duterte, meanwhile, said he knew where Dela Rosa was coming from.

"It was just an expression of a human being with a burden on the entire shoulders on the peace and the law and order of this country," he said.

"Naiintindihan ko si Bato."

Duterte said he was able to relate to Dela Rosa given his campaign promise to rid the country of drugs and corruption.

"You want at this age to be closer to the beauty of life, closer to God," said Duterte, adding that he couldn't because of his sworn duty. --JST, GMA News