Bato: Unfair to relieve entire Jolo PNP over soldier deaths, bombings

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Saturday said it was unfair to relieve the entire Philippine National Police force in Jolo, Sulu after a shooting incident and twin blasts that killed almost 20 people.

“Ako naman sa panawagan na ‘yun, that is very unfair for the rest of the policemen na hindi involved, granting may nakikipag-kutsaba. Sila ang tatanggalin doon, hindi ‘yung buong police force dahil unfair sa nagtra-trabaho nang matino,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview.

The senator likened the request to asking all senators to quit due to Senator Leila De Lima. De Lima, a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained in Camp Crame since 2017 due to allegations of drug involvement in the New Bilibid Prison.

“Parang sinabi mo na si, porke si Senator De Lima ay akusado sa drug cases, sasabihin na umalis kayong lahat sa Senado,” he said.

On Wednesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the entire police force in Jolo should be relieved after the shooting incident that killed four military men in June and the recent twin blasts that killed at least 15 people.

Last week, PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa said the nine police officers involved in the Jolo shooting had yet to be suspended.

The National Bureau of Investigation had also filed four counts of murder and planting of evidence against the involved cops.  — DVM, GMA News