‘Bato’ under fire over remarks against critics of war on drugs

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa came under fire from Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and human rights group Artikulo 3 after tagging critics of the administration’s war on illegal drugs as “ingrates.”

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday criticized Dela Rosa for uttering negative remarks when he is still faced with a pile of unsolved killings, while Artikulo 3 called for the PNP chief’s resignation.

Pimentel, a staunch ally of President Duterte, cited for instance the murder of Puerto Galera,

Oriental Mindoro, councilor Melchor Arago, and his 15-year-old son by unidentified gunmen.

Arago, 52, was in his car in front of his house Tuesday when he was shot by two motorcycle-riding men. The assailants also gunned down his son Kenneth when they spotted him going out of the house.

“This is yet another murder by the now usual modus operandi of motorcycle-riding gunmen. Where is the peace and order that Dela Rosa says the people are ungrateful for?” asked Pimentel, referring to the recent outburst of Dela Rosa.

The Senate President said the increasing number of “deaths under investigation” is “unacceptable.” He challenged the PNP to “shape up.”

“Criminals are being emboldened by what they see as the incompetence of the PNP in catching them,” Pimentel said.

“The Filipino people deserve a modern, professional, and capable police force. Right now, the PNP is none of the above. We need to take radical action to change this state of affairs”, he added

According to the PNP data, there were 6,225 drug-related deaths between July, 2016, and September, 2017.

Of the number of deaths, 2,290 are drug-related deaths or homicide cases under investigation, 3,850 deaths during police operations, and 85 police or military personnel killed in action.

“One homicide is one unnecessary death too many. Add the large number of unsolved killings, made worse by some of the victims being minors, and you start wondering what the police are there for,” Pimentel said.

He said the police must have the proper training and tools to carry out President Duterte’s campaign against drugs and criminality.

His deputy, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, said the Upper Chamber calls out the PNP only to ensure that “laws are followed by the protectors of the people” and “that they are spending the taxpayer’s money properly.”

“The Senate may be resolute in probing extra judicial killings committed by some rogue cops, but what should not be forgotten is that it has also been tireless in providing extra funding for all policemen,” he said.

Step down Artikulo 3 said that Dela Rosa should step down from office if he cannot stand public criticisms of his “failed, flawed, and floundering” bloody war on drugs.

“If the PNP chief cannot stand public criticism of his failed, flawed, and floundering war on drugs, then he should just resign,” said Artikulo 3, in a statement.

“If the PNP chief says critics of the drug war are ingrates, then we are a nation of ingrates. And we ingrates would like to tell you it’s time to step down,” it added.

Dela Rosa had earlier slammed critics of the war on drugs as ingrates saying they are benefiting from an improved peace and order situation which was the result of the war on drugs. He also denied the drug war only targets the poor.

But the PNP chief’s statement did not sit well with Artikulo 3, saying that “rather than expressing deep regret over the wanton violation of rights and the senseless killings, would alternately and publicly bluster, shed tears and badmouth the very public he swore to protect.”

“For over a year, we have witnessed the sorry spectacle of a clueless PNP chief who has presided over a nationwide police operation bereft of clear objectives and outcomes, unless one measures its success in the number of children, women, elderly and even foreign nationals offered at the altar of butchery,” it added.

Artikulo 3 also cited recent findings of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which states that only 60 percent of the population (3 out of 5 Filipinos) believes that the war on drugs targets only the poor and 48 percent doubt police claims that those killed resist arrest.