Bato no ‘pusong bato’
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa showed he is no ‘pusong bato’ as he chose to prioritize the family of a slain policeman over other police concerns during his first ever visit in the region yesterday, August 12.
Senior Inspector Danielo Bellezas, spokesperson of the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office (BPPO), said dela Rosa arrived in Valencia City from Davao City at bout 7:30 am and immediately proceeded to the wake of PO3 Gerson Autida.
Autida was killed Wednesday afternoon, August 10, after he
was shot by the subject of an illegal drugs buy-bust operation.
Dela Rosa stayed in the funeral home for two hours, Bellezas said, to condole with the family of the slain policeman.
Bellezas said dela Rosa ordered the release of all benefits for Autida as mandated by law.
“Mga 2 hours si General dinhi na gani siya namahaw and then iyang order nga ihatag tanan benefits as mandated by law. Murag naa pa gani personal
nga financial assistance gihatag,”Bellezas said.
The BPPO, Bellezas said, had already extended an initial financial assistance worth P20,000 to the family and is set to release Autida’s burial assistance.
“Actually daghan makuha nga assitance gikan sa organization. Giprocess na karon ang ang burial assistance,” Bellezas said.
From the wake, Dela Rosa then proceeded to the Police Regional Office in Northern Mndanao (PRO-10) at Camp Alagar in Barangay Lapasan, this city where he was set to attend the 115th Police Service Anniversary.
Prior to the program, however, dela Rosa took time to visit a wounded policeman in the intensive care unit (ICU) of one of the city’s hospitals.
The policeman, SPO1 Ronald Eugenio of the Opol Police Station, was shot and almost killed by a drug suspect who was the subject of a surveillance operation.
Eugenio is reportedly now in stable condition.
At the hospital, Dela Rosa awarded Eugenio with a medal and gave the wounded policeman a new service firearm.
The PNP chief then proceeded to the PRO-10 headquarters where he also commended several policemen and police units and offices in the region for their outstanding performance.