Palace: Bato not to blame for Korean’s slay

MANILA, Philippines - While his men may have carried out the kidnap-slay of a Korean businessmen, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Ronald dela Rosa should not be blamed for it, President Duterte said yesterday.

Duterte said there was no criminal intent on the part of Dela Rosa when Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was kidnapped and killed by his policemen abductors.

“There are two ways of committing crime under the Revised Penal Code. What are they? Felony, malice or negligence,” the President said during Dela Rosa’s 55th birthday celebration last Sunday in Camp Crame.

“From the looks of it, I do not see any criminal intent, really, on the part of Dela Rosa and the rest of the group. Who would want that to happen inside your camp? None,” he added.

Calls for Dela Rosa to quit mounted after the Justice department revealed that Jee was killed inside Camp Crame, a few steps away from Dela Rosa’s office and residence, last October even after his wife had paid P5 million in ransom.

In his affidavit, co-accused SP04 Roy Villegas claimed Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Ricky Sta. Isabel strangled Jee to death.

The Justice department has approved the filing of kidnapping and homicide charges against Sta. Isabel, Villegas and five others believed to be involved in the kidnapping and murder of the businessman.

Last week, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez asked Dela Rosa to resign, saying the heinous crime was an insult and “a clear indication that he has lost the respect of his people.”

Dela Rosa, who claimed to be “melting in shame” because of the killing of Jee inside the PNP’s main headquarters, initially said he was leaving it up to the President to decide his fate.

Dela Rosa confirmed last Sunday that he had offered to resign from his post but the President turned down his offer.

Asked why Duterte had chosen to retain Dela Rosa as PNP chief despite the outrage over his men’s involvement in a heinous crime, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said: “Simply because he understands that whatever happened… speaks about the concerns that he had regarding crime and corruption in government institutions.”

“The individuals involved were not part of the PNP chief’s team and these matters are exactly what the President has said, that there is corruption in, within the institutions,” he added.

Abella said those who are criticizing Duterte for retaining Dela Rosa “misunderstand the situation.”

Duterte, for the nth time, assailed critics of his anti-drug war during Dela Rosa’s birthday celebration last Sunday.

He said human rights advocates complaining about summary executions of drug suspects were trying to limit his campaign against the narcotics trade.

No monopoly of evil

The President reiterated his warning against drug lords, saying his administration could be just as ruthless as the drug lords. 

“They have to realize they do not have the monopoly of evil in this world. We are in the government but that does not mean we cannot do anything,” he said.

“Which is the lesser evil now? The ones cooking shabu and feeding them to our children or we who are killing them?”

Dela Rosa said the President personally asked him to stay and even directed him to continue the campaign against illegal drugs.

“We had a one-on-one talk in Bisaya. I told him I’m being asked to resign and he asked me why should I resign, what’s your fault? Just continue with your work,” he quoted the President as telling him.

The PNP chief reiterated how Jee’s kidnapping and murder had left him extremely shameful and angry. 

Dela Rosa vowed to take severe action against Sta. Isabel and other police officers linked to the crime.

On Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s advice that he limit his activities in public not related to his job, Dela Rosa said he would follow the counsel of the senator, who he considers his idol.

The President said he has put his entire trust in Dela Rosa to carry out his administration’s war on drugs despite the controversy involving the PNP chief’s men.

“If we take out Bato, the Speaker and I will not be here,” Duterte said, referring to Dela Rosa by his nickname.

But while President Duterte may have allowed him to keep his job despite calls for him to resign, Dela Rosa has to do more to prove he really deserves a second chance, lawmakers said yesterday.

“I have said my piece. I will agree to proposals that the PNP chief be given a second chance to deal with the mess the PNP has gotten itself into,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said in Filipino.  

In an interview with radio dzRH, Alvarez also urged Dela Rosa to focus on improving the image of the PNP and weed it of “scalawags.”

He had called on Dela Rosa to resign after initial investigation had shown it was some of his men who kidnapped and killed the Korean businessman.

Quit call stays

Alvarez made clear he was not taking back his call for the resignation of Dela Rosa.

“I stand by my (call). I have said my piece,” Alvarez said in an ambush interview before leaving the birthday party.

But he agreed Dela Rosa should be given another chance.

Dela Rosa welcomed Alvarez’s presence at his party. The PNP chief said he did not mind the Speaker’s call for his resignation, saying he was just doing his job.

“He impresses me as an honest and decent officer. Let’s give him a second chance, but he should be sensitive enough to the demands of public service, because so much is expected of him,” Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna said.

For Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, “this tragic turn of events should properly be the responsibility of the chief PNP.”

“While we respect the trust given by the President on Gen. dela Rosa and the police establishment, this outrage is symptomatic of the reality of where the PNP is. For the people to maintain their trust in the police, the PNP should rid itself of misfits,” he said. – Alexis Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla