Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has reminded the Philippine National Police to focus on their duty to protect the people and address the recent spate of kidnappings, instead of implementing orders that are politically motivated.
Dela Rosa warned that if these crimes are left unaddressed, it will not only tarnish the image of the Philippines, but it will also gravely affect the economy.
“Remnant man yan ng POGO operations, kung sino man ‘yan, kung may scalawag man diyan, still, it’s kidnapping for ransom pa rin. Nakakasira po ‘yan sa ating imahe at nakakasira sa ating ekonomiya,” the lawmaker said.
“Kulang sila sa focus sa kanilang trabaho. Dapat tutukan nila ‘yan. Wag na silang mag-focus dito sa mga order sa kanila na may mga political implications. Masyado silang naka-focus dun. Dun sila mag-focus sa kriminalidad. Wala na, ‘yung confidence ng tao nasisira kapag ganyan palagi,” the former PNP chief-turned-senator added.
Dela Rosa earlier reminded the uniformed personnel not to follow orders that they deem illegal and unconstitutional.
He made the remark amid the arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court, which he already questioned before the Supreme Court.
The reelectionist senator has vowed to continue his fight against illegal drugs, noting that this is the major cause of crime prevalence in the Philippines.
Should he be elected again in the May 2025 elections, Dela Rosa pledged to file a bill imposing death penalty for high-level drug traffickers to eliminate heinous crimes in the country.
