Bato slams critics of Bible-toting cops

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa hit back at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for criticizing police officers who carry Bibles and rosaries while visiting drug suspects’ homes for Oplan Tokhang.

Dela Rosa said the CBCP seems to be putting restrictions on followers of the Catholic faith with its stand.

“Do they have the monopoly of the Catholic religion? Are they the only ones allowed to carry rosaries?” he said Friday night in an interview over GMA News program State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

CBCP public affairs committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano described as “theatrics” a move the Eastern Police District to have law enforcers carry the religious items when they implement Tokhang.

For Dela Rosa, bringing Bibles and rosaries is not just for show but an innovation to make the program more appealing in the eyes of the public.

The religious items, Dela Rosa said, will also remind policemen not to engage in corruption.

Over 800 drug suspects have surrendered nationwide since Tokhang last week.

Meanwhile, some 46 drug suspects were killed during alleged gunfights with police in 3,253 antidrug operations since Dec. 5, 2017.

While they want to avoid casualties, Dela Rosa said there is no assurance the government’s war on drugs will be totally bloodless.

“We cannot promise you a bed of roses. This is war on drugs so something will eventually happen,” he said.

To avoid bloodshed, Dela Rosa said drug suspects should not engage lawmen in gunfights.

“I hope they just surrender peacefully. Life would be much easier,” Dela Rosa said.