MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Rolando "Bato" Dela Rosa is just on his first month as the head of the police force and yet, according to him, it feels like it has already been a year.
The 54-year-old Dela Rosa admitted on Tuesday that he is not used to the way his life is right now, as he described and joked about how his life was simple when he was just the chief of the Davao City police.
Now that he is looked up to as the father of 160,000 police officers, Dela Rosa shared that there are a lot of changes and adjustments, including how he can’t just walk normally in the mall now that the public sees him as a celebrity.
READ: Dela Rosa to barangay captains: Your roles are crucial in drug war
But if there’s one thing that he noticed since he assumed his post, it is the difference in the level of competence between the Davao police and Metro Manila cops.
“Ibang-iba ang standard natin sa Davao. I’m very proud to say very rare na may makita kang pulis na involved sa droga, kung meron man, mamamatay kaagad, hindi magtatagal,” Dela Rosa told police officers during the 115th anniversary of the police service in Davao City.
The PNP chief added that local officials, from barangay captains to congressmen, in Metro Manila even requested for police from Davao City to head their stations after they saw how a Davaoeno officer does the job.
READ: Bato shrugs off possible misses in ‘narco list’ but admits lack of evidence
Dela Rosa also mentioned how police from Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Samar, Leyte, Calabarzon and ARMM are allegedly dirty.
“Nakaka-shock. Ganoon na pala ang kalakaran, grabe talagang harap-harapan ang pagtanggap nila ng pera galing sa droga.”
Cleaning ranks
Dela Rosa also vowed that the police won’t stop cleaning up society, including their own backyard.
“We are also in the same war in the PNP who are involved in illegal drugs. We can only be completely effective in our campaign in the community if we first win the same campaign within our ranks,” the PNP chief said.
On Monday, the dismayed Dela Rosa lost his cool and cursed at PNP officials who surrendered to him after their names appeared on the infamous “narco-officials” list bared by President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Fuming Dela Rosa curses at PNP officers in 'narco-list'
A total of 32 officials surfaced out of 98 personnel on the list.
“Magbago na ang dapat magbago, this is your chance to save your career and live better lives, ‘wag niyo itong sayangin,” Dela Rosa said.
“Nais kong makakita pa ng maraming bayani sa ating hanay. Hindi niyo kailangan magbuwis ng buhay para magng bayani, maghandog lang kayo ng malinis na paglilingkod at disiplina.”
Don’t fail our president, countrymen
Dela Rosa claimed that crime rates went down already despite the short time since they started their campaign against illegal drugs. He also challenged his men to work hard to fulfill the promise of Duterte to the public, a crime-free community within three to six months.
WATCH: Dela Rosa to ‘narco-cops’: This is the worst!
“Siguraduhin natin na makaya natin ‘yang 3-6 months. Kakayanin natin ‘yan by all means, all cost. Gagawin natin para bigyang saysay ‘yung promise ng Presidente sa taong bayan,” Dela Rosa said.
"We cannot afford to fail our president. We cannot also afford to fail the Filipino people who are expecting us to do our mandate,” he added.
Dela Rosa also called on the public to cooperate with the government to make out of the most of what he said as the “last chance” that the Filipinos have in Duterte’s administration.
“Pagtulung-tulungan natin na itayo ang bandera ng Pilipinas. This is our last chance,” sabi niya. “Tuluy-tuloy na ang laban. Kapag iba na ang presidente I don’t know kung kakayanin niya ang ginagawa ni presidente.”