Alejano to Bato: Wisdom available to all, upperclassman or underclassman

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Monday said he could advise PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on what to do even if the lawmaker is the top cop's junior at the Philippine Military Academy.

Alejano made the remark after Dela Rosa pointed out that he was the congressman's upperclassman.

Alejano, a member of the opposition in the House of Representatives, earlier said the PNP chief should remember that his loyalty should be to the country and not to President Rodrigo Duterte.

"General Bato will always be my upperclassman in the PMA but it does not mean that I cannot advise him especially that I am not in the active service anymore," Alejano told GMA News Online.

"Further, wisdom and knowledge are available to everybody whether an upperclass or underclass and they are best shared," he added.

Alejano said his reminder to be loyal to the Constitution and not to President Rodrigo Duterte is for all Filipinos, not specifically to Dela Rosa.

"To be loyal to the Constitution is a reminder not only to General Bato but to all Filipinos specifically to all workers in government," Alejano said.

"I did that as a policymaker and a concerned citizen," he added.

At a press conference, Dela Rosa reacted to Alejano's remark last week saying that the PNP chief should be more careful with his statements and mindful of how it will be interpreted by the public.

"That's a very good advice from an underclass who is a congressman," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa is a member of the PMA Class '86, while Alejano, a former junior officer in the Philippine Marines, is from Class '95.

Dela Rosa earlier said he would go to war with the "opposition" if they would try to topple the Duterte administration.

The word war between the two started when Alejano said he noticed an "intriguing pattern" on the conduct of the PNP's anti-illegal drug operations. —NB, GMA News