To take long vacation before
he takes oath as Bucor chief
CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte- Retiring police Director- General Ronald ‘Bato’ de la Rosa said that he has no regret on his stint as the country’s top enforcer of the controversial anti-illegal drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.
If at all, his only regret was there were several of his policemen who were killed in the course of the campaign, he said.
De la Rosa, who is to retire next week as the head of the more than 170,000-strong Philippine National Police, even made an unsolicited advice to his successor, Director Oscar Albayalde, to further continue the anti-illegal drug war, and temper his leadership with love and discipline among his men.
“Very happy ako. Very thankful ako sa Presidente for appointing me sa PNP (as its director general) and for giving me all the support that he could give. (But as I retire) malungkot na malungkot ako. I love the job. I love everything about the PNP. Mahiwalay ka na; its very lonely,” the country’s outgoing police chief said Thursday night.
The controversial police director general visited the regional PNP headquarters at Camp Ruperto Kangleon in Palo, Leyte which is under the command of Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz as part of what he called ‘farewell tour’ among the organization’s regional offices, expressing his gratitude to them for their support.
He said that in his stint as PNP chief, they have accomplished several things which include bringing the organization ‘closer to the ordinary Filipino people’ and ‘restoring’ their trust as well.
“Nakita nila na ang PNP hindi lang puro kutong, sindikato.Hindi puro sakay sa illegal (activities),” de la Rosa said.
He was also proud of his accomplishments in the implementation of the illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration.
He said that while illegal drugs continue to proliferate in the country, “at least nabawasan.”
“Kulang pa hindi pa 100 percent drug-free ang Pilipinas. May droga pa din. Dami pa din. Yan ang pangarap ko na maging drug-free ang Pilipinas pero hindi pa natin naabot. At least nabawasan,” de la Rosa said without giving figures to support his claim.
As to successor, he want Albayalde to continue the illegal drug campaign, describing it as the ‘mother of all projects’ of the President.
“I (advise) him to continue (the illegal drug campaign). Tuloy-tuloy yan. I will also advise him to continue loving his men. Love does not come from pampering your people but disciplining also. That’s how we express our love to our family, subordinate and everyone. Mahal mo ang tao, disiplinahin mo,” he said.
Asked what will be his immediate plans before he assume as head of the Bureau of Corrections(Bucor) as promised to him earlier by Mr. Duterte, de la Rosa said that he would take a vacation with his wife and children.
“Gusto ko munang magbakasyon. Matagal akong nagtrabaho. I want to hug my children and my wife. I want to be there with them. It’s payback time,” he said.
And if ever he will be asked by the President to run for a public position comes the 2019 elections, he will abide it, de la Rosa said.
“I’m not making my own plans. Dependent ako sa kanya. Kung ano ang gusto niya ipagawa sa akin, gagawin ko,” he said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA with ROEL T. AMAZONA )
