Bato: Deployment of 2 Mandaluyong cops no disrespect to Marawi forces

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa doesn't see the deployment of two Mandaluyong policemen - caught on video brutalizing arrested men - to Marawi City as disrespectful to government troops fighting the pro-ISIS Maute Group there.

"Nag-take oath 'yang mga pulis na yan na they can be assigned anywhere in the Philippine archipelago. So wala naman. I don't mean to offend the RPSB (Regional Public Safety Battalion) na totoong  nakikipaglaban doon sa mga Maute, sinampal ko din ba? Hindi naman," Dela Rosa said on Wednesday.

"Pasalamat na lang sila madadagdagan yung pwersa nila doon. We need more personnel sa ground doon sa Marawi, kailangan talaga natin," he added.

PO1 Jose Julius Tandog and PO1 Chito Enriquez have been deployed to Marawi City on Dela Rosa's orders.

Last week, Tandog was filmed repeatedly striking victims Glen Villanueva and Marvin Calda with a length of yantok, before threatening to shoot them. Tandog and Enriques then both drew their guns and pointed them at the two unarmed subjects.

Dela Rosa meanwhile said there's still a need to augment government forces in Marawi City.

"Maghahanap tayo ng ilagay doon dahil kailangan talaga ng bagong pulis lalong-lalo na yung mga pulis na hindi naman talaga doon. Dahil 'yun nga yung implementation sa batas doon medyo may pagkukulang dahil nga sa yung umiiral na kultura doon sa lugar na 'yon," Dela Rosa said.

"Yung mga lokal na pulis na taga-doon takot talagang banggain doon yung mga malalaking sindikato doon dahil takot silang...madamay yung pamilya nila. So lagyan natin ng mga pulis na walang pamilya doon para matapang lumaban," he added.

He added that there will be no changes to the duties of the two Mandaluyong cops.

"Lahat ng normal na ginagawa ng pulis doon, walang exemptions. Lahat ng trabaho ng pulis, kung makipag-giyera sila sa Maute, giyera sa Maute. Kung manghuli ng drug lord, carnapping lord, mga anong lord diyan, gagawin nila. Yung normal, normal na trabaho ng mga pulis," Dela Rosa said. —JST/KVD, GMA News