Rody lauds Bato for patriotism

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte praised Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for his loyalty to the flag.

Duterte was impressed by Dela Rosa’s move in apologizing over his statements urging addicts to kill and burn down the houses of suspected drug lords.

Duterte recalled knowing Dela Rosa when he was only a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and their friendship grew until he stood as godfather at the police chief’s wedding.

“And the guy, for all of his faults, is simply loyal to the Republic of the Philippines, not to me. Because I’ve been saying to everybody, do not (place) your loyalty to me. I do not need it… you nurture the love of the country and then you are ready to die for it,” Duterte said.

As for Dela Rosa’s “arson” statement, Duterte said the PNP chief was just being boastful and passionate.

“You know, this Bato, he was able to show off first… that’s my style. He really did follow it, even I can’t make (such) a scene. My role is already limited,” Duterte remarked during a visit to the Eastern Mindanao Command late Friday.

The President cited Dela Rosa’s initiative in leading the police in the war against the drug menace. He added Dela Rosa at times comes on too strong in the anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa has been in the forefront of the fight against illegal drugs and has appeared before the Senate inquiry into the spate of killings of suspected drug offenders.

Facing hundreds of drug surrenderees in Bacolod City on Thursday, Dela Rosa urged them to burn the houses of drug lords or kill them.

A day later, Dela Rosa apologized for his remarks, which he said were made out of frustration with illegal drugs.

“Bato has my support. He has been around. I was his ninong (wedding sponsor) when he married many, many years ago. He was only Second Lieutenant here. He earned his force here in Davao City and in Mindanao,” Duterte said.

The President also reiterated his stand of taking full responsibility for all the deaths resulting from legitimate police operations, as he stressed that he would not hesitate to punish abusive policemen.

“I take all, full, official and personal responsibility. That’s mine … nobody else’s but mine and mine alone. That is how I protect the security forces. That’s not a half-cooked (promise),” Duterte said.

“My orders to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the police are to destroy the drug problem in this city, in this region, in this province, in this country. You cannot wage a war without killing and I simply cannot take it as a punitive police action,” he said. – With Edith Regalado, Christina Mendez