PNP chief Bato dela Rosa to AIDG personnel: I am proud of you

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa met Wednesday with the displaced members of the defunct Anti-Illegal Drugs Group to boost their morale.

In his speech before AIDG members at Camp Crame, Dela Rosa said he was not angry with them because he knew the hard work they have done.

"Hindi ako galit sa inyo, galit ako sa gumawa ng kalokohan. 'Wag n'yo sabihin na nilalahat ko kayo. Sabi nila demoralized kayo. I understand your feeling, normal yan dahil gumagawa kayong katinuan, kabutihan. Grabe yung hirap na hinarap ninyo. Yung stakeout na ilang araw, ilang gabi walang tulugan. Kung saan saan kayo nakakarating sa trabaho ninyo.  Tapos ngayon bigla na lang kayong ma-dissolve," he said.

He said he was proud of what the AIDG personnel have done in the last seven months.

"I want to tell you that I'm very thankful for all your accomplishments for the last seven months. Kayo naman talaga ang frontrunner ng war on drugs natin di ba. I'm very happy for what you have done, I'm very proud of you," he said.

He said it just so happened that some of their colleagues used the war against drugs for their self-interest.

"Nasingitan tayo kaya kailangan muna mag-cleanse," he said, referring to Supt. Rafael Dumlao III and SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel who are allegedly involved in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in October.

Dela Rosa said the AIDG members should not entertain gripes and self-pity, adding that he knew what they are currently feeling because he experienced the same when the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force faced controversies.

"You should not entertain gripes, you should not entertain self pity.  Alam ko, we have been through this kind of kwan, yung grabe yung kasong hinaharap," he said

"Nabaligtad yung sitwasyon noong tumaob si (former President Joseph) Erap Estrada, lumayas si Gen (Panfilo) Lacson, naiwan kami. We were left hanging. Kami ang na-ganged up ng mga galit kay Lacson dahil hindi nila matira si Lacson noon," he added.

He told the AIDG personnel that they should accept their situation now.

"Everything happens for a purpose. Let's take it with open heart and open mind," he said.

The PNP chief said he has given instruction that those displaced from the AIDG be given priority in the unit they want to transfer to.

"I haven given instruction na priority kayo kung saan n'yo gusto mapunta...You are good narco cops. Shift your skills sa ibang field," he said.

Former AIDG director Senior Supt. Albert Ferro will be assigned to the Firearms and Explosives Office as deputy chief.

He will be taking the post of Senior Supt. Jose Chiquito Malayo who was tapped to head the newly-formed Counter-Intelligence Task Force tasked to run after scalawag policemen. 

After meeting with the AIDG personnel, Dela Rosa proceeded to Angeles City police station in Pampanga. — RSJ, GMA News