Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, played Santa Claus to children who lost their parents in the aggressive anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government.
Clad in a Santa Claus outfit and the famous white beard, Dela Rosa spent time and played with a number of children who attended the party and gift-giving of the PNP in a popular mall in Mandaluyong City.
“Since most of these children lost their father on our on-going war on drugs, we want to compensate this loss, their sadness with somehow little feeling of happiness,” said Dela Rosa.
In his speech, Dela Rosa told the children to stay away from illegal drugs because of the harmful effects to the body and the family.
He also reminded them to be good children and always prioritize the family, including the love for parents.
In sponsoring the gift-giving, Dela Rosa said the PNP wants to see the children smile and feel the spirit of Christmas despite losing their parents to the illegal drugs war.
“The police want to make amends to the children. These children are innocent whatever their parents have done in the past,” said Dela Rosa.
He also expressed confidence that the children of slain drug personalities would not be treated differently in their community.
Dela Rosa then reminded the public that children of the slain drug personalities should not suffer from the sins of their parents.
“Ang kasalanan ni Pedro hindi kasalanan ni Jose,” said Dela Rosa.
A total of 2,004 suspected drug pushers and users were killed in various police operations across the country since July this year.
The figure is on top of the 2,777 drug personalities who were killed by suspected vigilante groups.
(Aaron B. Recuenco)