Bato dela Rosa tells cops to ‘trust the process’ amid internal cleansing in PNP

Policemen who have tendered their courtesy resignations in compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government's internal cleansing efforts in the Philippine National Police must "trust the process," Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Tuesday.

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, made the remark on the last day of compliance to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr.'s call for generals and full colonels in the national police force to submit their courtesy resignations in a bid to get rid of officers who are involved in the illegal drug trade.

"Basta advice ko sa kanila just trust the process. Kung wala ka naman ginawang kalokohan, 'di ka involved sa ilegal na droga, 'di naman siguro tatanggapin yung resignation letter mo. So status quo ka," Dela Rosa said  in an interview with reporters.

[My advice to them is to just trust the process. If you have not done anything silly, you're not involved in illegal drugs, your resignation would not be accepted.]

As former PNP chief, Dela Rosa said that he heard some grievances from his former colleagues but they refuse to speak up because they are still in active service.

"May naririnig tayo pero di ko na sasabihin dahil kawawa itong mga taong ito kung malaman eh 'Nagreklamo ka pala ha'...Takot yan magsalita in the open dahil nasa active service pa sila e. They don't want to get the goat of their superiors," he said.

[I have heard of (grumblings) but I won’t reveal (their identities). They are afraid to speak up in public because they are still in the active service.]

"Susunod lang sila sa orders pero deep inside meron yan dinaramdam 'di lang nagsasalita. Mabuti na yung ganon para walang gulo. Sunod lang kayo. Trust the process and everything will be alright," he added.

[They will follow orders but deep inside, they feel something and just won't speak up. It's good that way so there will be no trouble. Just follow orders, trust the process and everything will be alright.]

Among the concerns of the policemen is the risk of losing their benefits should their resignation be accepted by the five-man panel.

"Di mo pa sigurado kung ano ang magiging future mo at ng pamilya mo kasi pag tinanggap resignation mo, wala ka nang matanggap na retirement benefits...Iniisip din (nila) yan... Kahit ako nandyan iisipin ko rin yan," he said.

[They are thinking about their future. Should their resignation be accepted, you won't receive any retirement benefits. If I will be in a similar situation, I would also think that way.]

Nevertheless, Dela Rosa hoped that the five-man panel who will evaluate the resignation letters of the police officials will do it "objectively, fairly and justly." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News