Drilon chides Bato over ‘ingrato’ remark: You are paid to do your job

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday slammed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over the latter’s “ingrato” remark to drug war critics.

“I would rather be an ingrate and save lives from being lost because of impunity, the culture of impunity of our PNP,” Drilon said when sought for comment on Dela Rosa’s statement.

“He is paid by the taxpayers to do his job and we always, we support the war on drugs, but not the extrajudicial killings. No question, we support the war on drugs but huwag naman sa ganitong paraan,” he said.

Drilon said Dela Rosa should be open to criticisms as “there is nothing achieved by name-calling.”

Dela Rosa lashed out at critics of the Duterte administration’s drug war on Tuesday, calling them “ingrates.”

"Ako, prangka ako na tao. You can criticize us to high heavens, but I can tell you straight sa inyong mga mata, kayong mga critic, sabihan ko kayo, ingrato kayo," Dela Rosa said.

He said those criticizing the government's efforts against illegal drugs are actually benefiting from its supposed success.

"Alam ko nakikinabang din kayo sa peace and order na idinulot sa atin ng war on drugs, peace and order na tinatamasa n'yo ngayon na naidulot ng aming war on drugs," Dela Rosa said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, for his part, said he can understand the frustration of Dela Rosa amid the criticisms stemming from the recent killings of teenagers.

Lacson, former PNP chief himself, was referring to the killings of Kian Loyd Delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, and Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman, which are all subject of a Senate investigation.

“I may not be supportive of such outbursts coming from the country’s top law enforcer but I’m willing to extend some allowance and understanding of such reaction to the PNP critics,” Lacson said. —KBK, GMA News