Bato to bishops: I can talk to God without you

MANILA, Philippines — After Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has had enough criticisms, he chided the Catholic Church for its stand against the rising number of deaths in the country.

The gutsy PNP chief belittled the role of Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines after issuing a pastoral letter tagging the current administration responsible with “reign of terror.”

“Ano gusto nila pabayaan na lang namin ang problema sa drugs? Ganoon ang gusto nila? You know please tell them I can communicate with God without passing through them,” Dela Rosa said at a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.

FULL TEXT: CBCP’s pastoral statement vs illegal drugs, killings

Dela Rosa also hit the Catholic Church for having its own failures, just like the PNP having rogue cops.

“Kapag sinasabi natin na PNP hindi perfect, merong sindikatong pulis, bakit masabi mo ba ‘yung church, ‘yung pari mismo they are perfect? Wala silang ginagawang kalokohan? he added.

In a pastoral statement dated Jan. 30, 2017, CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas aired the church officials' concern over the rising number of drug-related killings.

READ: PNP chief Dela Rosa: Bring it on, I’m willing to die every time

The CBCP said many were killed, especially in the poor communities as “their lives have only become worse” and perpetrators were not held accountable.

“We are one with many of our countrymen who want change. But change must be guided by truth and justice. The solution does not lie in the killing of suspected drug users and pushers. Let us not allow fear to reign and keep us silent,” the statement read.

The PNP chief, meanwhile, called for fairness while manifesting his faith in God and his respect to the church.

READ: Palace says CBCP 'out of touch' after pastoral letter vs drug war

“I believe in God, Katoliko ako, but my relationship to God is direkta pa. I still i go to church because I respect the church,” dela Rosa said.

“Hindi ko sila inakusahan. Hindi naman lahat ng pari e masama, so ganun din dapat ang pagtingin nila sa amin. Hindi lahat ng ng pulis masama,” he added.