BATO
DUE to his moniker “Bato” (Rock), many see PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa as a tough and no-nonsense police chief bent on eradicating crime and illegal drugs in the country.
But a nine-minute video uploaded last Saturday by Mugstoria, a social media group, on its Facebook page showed a friendlier and more down-to-earth dela Rosa answering questions from netizens on a host of topics.
About 24 hours after it was uploaded, it generated 1.5 million views. As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the video already had 2,052,146 views.
In the video dela Rosa, who wore a sky blue shirt, read questions from netizens and answered them.
The first question posted by Jarius Peter Pogoy read: “Sir, how to be you po?”
Dela Rosa replied: “How to be me? Just be natural. Ayaw pamakak, ayaw pag-atik-atik, ayaw pag-plastic-plastic. Magpakatotoo ka lang (Don’t lie, don’t be flamboyant, don’t be plastic. Be true to yourself). And you will be me.”
Netizen Rodel Apao asked dela Rosa how is he related to famed bald-headed stars Jason Statham and Vin Diesel, and the PNP chief rubbed his shaved head and replied: “Kaning ulo. Mao ni ang pambansang ulo. Dili lang ni pang-Hollywood pero pambansang ulo na ni (This head. It’s the national head. It’s not just for Hollywood, but it’s the national head).”
The PNP director general also gamely answered a netizen who asked if he receives a discount when he buys Mr. Clean detergent bar.
“Naku, wala koy discount ani kay powder man akong ginapalit, dili man bareta (I don’t receive a discount because I buy powder, not detergent bars)!” dela Rosa said.
He even answered questions about love life.
A netizen named Prichi James asked, “Sir mo-rehab pod mo og adik sa gugma? (Will you rehabilitate someone addicted to love?)
Dela Rosa smiled and answered, “Dili man na ma-rehab, dong, kay wala may intervention anang gugma. Mapugngan pa ang baha nungka ang gugma. Walay rehab na. Ayaw pugngi nang gugma kay makasakit na og kasing-kasing. Ibuga na. Pwede iutot na (Love cannot be rehabilitated, kid, because there’s no intervention for love. Flood can be stopped but not love. There’s no rehab for that. Don’t stop love because it can hurt the heart. Let it out, you can even fart it).”
When asked what Pokemon he got on the day, in reference to the famous mobile game Pokemon Go, dela Rosa said his child plays Pokemon while he plays Clash of Clans.
Netizen Marife Labajo posted one of the funniest questions: “Sir ngano hayag pa imo agtang kaysa ako kaugmaon (why is your head brighter than my future)?”
Dela Rosa replied: “Ayaw kaguol anang imong kaugmaon. God will provide. Basta maningkamot lang ka. Ako gatuo ba diay nga magdahom nga chief PNP? Huna-huna nako sauna kung si Mar Roxas ang midaog pagka presidente, ngitngit pas alkitran akong kaugmaon, dong (Don’t worry about your future. God will provide. Just work hard. Me, did I believe that I would one day become PNP chief? Had Mar Roxas become president, my future would have been darker than tar, boy).”
Jonjie Gonzales, Mugstoria founder and chief of staff of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, said the dela Rosa’s video was taken last week at the rooftop of Marco Polo Hotel in Cebu, the night before he held his first command conference at Camp Sergio Osmeña.