Bato hit for PNP’s ‘incompetence’

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called out yesterday Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for failing to stop the spate of killings in the country.

Pimentel denounced the assassination of Councilor Melchor Arago of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, and his 15-year-old son by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday.

Arago, 52, was in his car, which was parked in front of his house, when two motorcycle-riding men approached and shot him and his son Kenneth.

“This is yet another murder by the now usual modus operandi of motorcycleriding gunmen. Where is the peace and order that Dela Rosa says the people are ungrateful for?” Pimentel said.

He was referring to an outburst from Dela Rosa, where he referred to critics of the war on drugs as “ingrates.”

Pimentel, who was instrumental in the passage of the NBI Modernization Law, challenged the PNP to shape up.

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

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

These deaths were broken down into 2,290 drug-related or homicide cases under investigation, 3,850 deaths during police operations, and 85 police or military personnel killed in action.

Pimentel said the large number of unsolved “deaths under investigation” is unacceptable.

“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,” he said.

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

“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,” said the senator.

The Senate President previously suggested having a “VFA-style” (Visiting Forces Agreement) treaty with foreign police forces to help train the PNP.

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