Bato: Cops questioning their transfer to Basilan should resign

Errant policemen whining about their impending transfer to Mindanao as part of their punishment should just resign, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Thursday.

"How I wish mag-resign na silang lahat, sabihan n'yo sila para wala na akong gastos, hindi na ako manghiram ng C-130 sa Armed Forces para hakutin sila papuntang Basilan," Dela Rosa told reporters.

He said the errant policemen should best resign especially if they could not change their ways. "You resign and continue with your evil ways," he said.

On Tuesday, Dela Rosa presented to President Rodrigo Duterte more than 200 police officers who were initially set for retraining in connection with various infractions they had committed.

The President, however, said the policemen will no longer be retrained but will instead be transferred to Basilan. He said those who do not want to be transferred should resign.

Dela Rosa said he does not care if the number of PNP personnel will dwindle as long as those who will be retained will not drag the police force's image to the mud.

"I don't care kung wala akong tao. I care for quality, not for quantity. Bahala na kung meron akong isang pulis lang diyan pero matino kaysa sa meron akong 100 pulis na puro naman katarantaduhan ang pinaggagawa," he said.

Dela Rosa insisted that those presented to Duterte have derogatory records contrary to the policemen's claims. He said the policemen were just making alibis to "save their necks."

He added that policemen, as part of their training, and even those without derogatory records, should always be ready to be transferred anywhere in the Philippines without qualms.

"Kahit na wala silang offense, there is no problem bringing them to Basilan because they took oath as members of the Philippine National Police not Quezon City Police only, not Manila Police, so they can be assigned anywhere in the Philippines," he said.

"So may offense man sila o wala, we have the prerogative as mandated by law na pwede natin silang i-deploy anywhere in the Philippines," Dela Rosa added. —KBK, GMA News