Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa yesterday denied that Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go called him to reinstate a police officer linked to the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.
“Basta meron akong kumpare (na tumawag). Hindi siya (Go),” Dela Rosa said at the PNP Special Action Force turnover ceremony at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
However, Dela Rosa said he will reveal his identity only if Sen. Leila M. de Lima names her source who said that it was Go. “Sabihin niya muna sa akin kung sino source nya, sabihin ko kung sino kumpare ko na kausap ko,” Dela Rosa said.
The PNP chief had said that a “kumpare” or close friend called him for Marcos’ reinstatement. “Basta may kumpare akong tumawag. Hindi ko sasabihin kung sino,” he said before denying that it was Go.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa reiterated that government has no intention of declaring Martial Law.
“We don’t have any intention of declaring Martial Law. The President did not say anything of declaring Martial Law. That’s far from our minds and least of our concerns,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said during the Martial Law under the late President Ferdinand Marcos, his father was manhandled by members of the Philippine Constabulary.
He said that his father was ordered to eat bangus (milkfish) that was cooked on top of burning charcoal. “Pina-open iyung bibig ng father ko, sinaksaksan ng bangus, namaga ’yung mukha ng father ko. That’s Martial Law for me. Iyun ang kinagisnan ko,” Dela Rosa said.
In another incident of Martial Law abuse, Dela Rosa said he and some friends were arrested for violating the curfew after watching a boxing match.
He said they were walking on a road on their way home as there were no buses available when the PC picked them up and loaded them into a 6×6 truck.
“We were brought to the PC barracks and were ordered to line-up with machine guns in front of us. They told us to say our prayers because will be firing squad for violating the curfew. We were not killed but were only threatened, that’s Martial Law for me. Do you think I will advice Martial Law,” he said.
(Francis T. Wakefield and Jonathan M. Hicap)
