‘THE ROCK’ Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa is called “Bato” (the Rock) for his solid build. (INQUIRER.NET)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Police Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the former Davao police chief chosen by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to head the Philippine National Police (PNP), on Thursday urged drug lords and pushers to leave the country because they have no place to hide under the coming administration.
“Mag-abroad sila. Wala silang matataguan dito (They must go abroad, they have nowhere to hide here),” Dela Rosa said in a press conference at SM City Davao.
Dela Rosa, who mirrors Duterte’s trash-talking demeanor against criminals, said he would implement nationwide Davao’s Oplan Tuktok Hangyo or Oplan “Knock and Plead,” wherein police would knock on doors of alleged drug pushers and plead for them to surrender.
And if they don’t surrender, they would suffer the brute force of the law, Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa also said the police officers who are caught using and peddling drugs should surrender themselves or else they know what’s coming for them.
Dela Rosa noted though that the PNP under his watch would take a nurturing approach with the youth who are addicted to drugs.
But Dela Rosa chose to stay silent when asked for a comment on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s catcalling a female reporter.
He begged off from making a comment about the issue.
“You want me to criticize the president?” Dela Rosa said, scratching his head.
Pressed further to comment as a law enforcer, Dela Rosa said: “Sa kanya na lang yun (Let him be).”
Davao City under Duterte’s leadership in 1997 passed an ordinance called Women Development Code, which aims to legislate gender sensitivity toward women.
Dela Rosa was asked about his reaction on Duterte’s catcalling GMA 7 reporter Mariz Umali during the former’s first press conference as president-elect at the presidential guesthouse in Davao City Tuesday night.
When Umali went up to the microphone to ask a question after Duterte presented his Cabinet to the media, Duterte leered at the reporter, whistled and serenaded her on live television.
Raffy Tima, Umali’s husband, called out Duterte on Facebook to point out that catcalling his wife is “wrong in so many levels.”