Senate to probe killings of drug suspects
Confiscated FAs presented to PNP chief in General Santos City (August 16, 2016) – Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, presents to journalists during his visit at the police regional office on August 11 the cache of seized assorted high-powered firearms from police operations in Central Mindanao Region. (Isagani Palma–Malungon Information Office/with PRO-12 PNP Press Corps)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa assured the senators on Tuesday that police officials “will bare all” during the scheduled Senate investigation on the spate of killings of drug suspects next week.
“Yung pagpunta lang namin dun sa Senado is a sign that we are true to our words, we are true to our deeds. Wala kami[ng] itatago, kung ano ang gusto nilang malaman, ibibigay namin,” Dela Rosa said at a press conference before a command conference with his officials.
“Huwag silang mag-alala, ilalabas naming lahat, lahat ng kailangan nilang data ibibigay namin, lahat ng gusto nilang malaman, sasabihin namin,” he added.
The Senate committee on justice and human rights, chaired by Sen. Leila de Lima, is set to conduct its probe on August 22 and 23. Dela Rosa had earlier expressed his readiness to attend the investigation.
Asked on the advice of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the PNP should keep its cool during the Senate probe, Dela Rosa said he appreciates the concern of the former PNP chief.
“I appreciate the concern of our former boss, Sen Lacson. But please tell them that we wil go there to the Senate with open hearts, our hearts are clean, hindi kami tainted kaya wala kaming dapat itago, hindi kami magpa-panic and we will never lose our cool,” he said.
Dela Rosa said he is also ready to face the tough questions of the lawmakers.
“Hindi naman kami kailangang sindakin para lumabas yung katotohanan. Honorable naman ang mga senador natin, hindi naman yan mambabastos sa amin siguro. In every action, there is a corresponding reaction. Pag binabastos ka, we may probably lose our cool pero kung friendly naman sila, hindi gaanong hostile e what’s the reason for us to lose our cool,” he said.
He added that Lacson knows him as a cool person and he will only lose his cool if he is agitated.
“Alam niya na very cool ako na tao and very hot ako pag ako ay in-agitate, pero hindi yan address to the Senate ha, addressed to the enemies yan, mga kalaban. Hindi sa Senado, hindi ko sila kalaban, hindi natin sila kalaban,” he said.
Dela Rosa also assured the public that the PNP will not lose its momentum in the fight against illegal drugs.
“Kahit na anong imbestigasyon diyan that will come our way, we are determined to finish this off in six months. I don’t care kung anong investigation ang darating diyan, I will continue to motivate my men to exploit the momentum. The momentum is on our side. We don’t have to slow down. We will continue the fight,” he said. (MNS)