‘Resist all temptations; don’t let me down,’ Dela Rosa tells SAF troopers

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa yesterday urged the the newest batch of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) troopers assigned at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to “resist all forms of temptation” and stop the proliferation of illegal drugs there.

“You are the SAF. You are the best of the best, the cream of the crop. Don’t let me down because you are my last hope to stop the proliferation of illegal drug trade inside the Bilibid,” he said.

“If you fail, I don’t have anybody else to turn to. That’s why you have to resist the temptations, the bribes because you are not facing ordinary criminals. They are geniuses with evil minds,” he added.

The new battalion, headed by Chief Superintendent Christopher Mendoza who is a Marawi siege veteran, will replace at least 300 SAF commandos guarding the NBP’s maximum security compound and Building 14 where criminals who have committed the most heinous crimes are detained.

Dela Rosa also belied the allegations that the outgoing SAF troops were involved in any illegal activities with the inmates.

He expressed confidence that the new battalion will be just as successful in their mission since most of them are Marawi survivors.

“You have seen the worst. Everyday you had to face death doon sa Marawi and I’m very proud na napagtagumpayan niyo ‘yun. Tinalo niyo yung ISIS sa Marawi ito pa kaya?” Dela Rosa stated.

However, Dela Rosa noted the “new players” who have entered the illegal drug trade inside the medium security compound.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that newly-convicted Chinese drug lords have become the new players of the illegal drug trade inside the NBP.

He said he will be willing to deploy additional forces if the need arises.

The maximum security compound currently houses 18,000 high-profile inmates while the medium security compound has 6,000 detainees. The Building 14 has about 100 inmates.

The new batch of SAF troops will be the fourth to guard the NBP.

It was on July 20, 2016 when the first batch of SAF troopers were deployed to the NBP to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs there.