PNP chief to cops: We are ready to listen

MANILA - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa assured policemen seeking the Catholic Church's help on extrajudicial killings that he was also prepared to address their concerns.

"Handa rin kami makinig. For all we know, baka kung anu-ano nang nangyari sa baba. Kung meron silang problema, then the PNP leadership is ready to help (address) their complaints and concerns," he said.

"We are all after kung ano ang truth. Basta truth and justice lang ang habol natin, hindi fishing expedition na nagsisimula sa pagbabalita ng ganun para to lure disgruntled na mga pulis na gustong pumunta. If that is para sa katotohanan then we are all after the truth," he added.

(We are also ready to listen. For all we know, a lot of things are happening on the ground. If they have a problem, the PNP leadership is ready to help address their complaints and concerns.)

(We are all after the truth. As long as it is for truth and justice, not just a fishing expedition to lure disgruntled policemen, then we are for it.)

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, earlier said some policemen have approached them because they were bothered by their conscience over the extrajudicial killings.

He said the Church was ready to provide sanctuary and assistance to these policemen, as long as they have evidence of the killings.

Dela Rosa said he didn't see anything wrong with policemen seeking the Church's help as long as they back up their claims with strong evidence. Third Anne Peralta/SunStar Philippines

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