Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, who once served under incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte as Davao City chief of police, was named as the new head of the 160,000-strong Philippine National Police, replacing Director General Ricardo C. Marquez.
Dela Rosa, who speaks and cracks jokes like Duterte, has vowed to implement his father figure’s no-nonsense campaign against crime, particularly drugs, to the hilt.
“Our focus? Patayan sa drugs. Patayan talaga ito sa drugs kaya kayong mga drug lord diyan, humanda kayo. Talagang sasagasaan ko kayo,” said Dela Rosa after Duterte announced in Davao City that he is the incoming PNP chief.
He said that the burden of realizing the campaign promise of Duterte to end criminality within three to six months rests on him and the PNP. “Kakayanin natin. P#%@, papa-Chief PNP ka tapos hindi mo kakayanin. Dapat kayanin mo,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said that the campaign against illegal drugs will start in the PNP. “How can you cleanse outside if your own house is not clean? So all policemen involved in illegal drugs, you should leave (the organization) now,” said Dela Rosa. “You are receiving salary from the government, yet, you are also receiving salary from drug lords. Ano kayo sinusuwerte,” he added.
Dela Rosa said he knows how to start and who to run after as he had been assigned as chief of staff of the Intelligence Group of the PNP after his stint as Davao City police director ended October 18, 2013. He held various positions in IG such as deputy director for operations and deputy director for administration.
“I have been in the IG for a long time. It’s all in the IG based on our counter-intelligence against erring personnel,” said Dela Rosa.
Duterte had two other candidates for PNP’s top post and also served as Davao City police chief. They are Chief Supt. Ramon Apolinario and Senior Supt. Rene Aspera.
Sources said Dela Rosa is the closest to Duterte. Aside from being a native of Davao Oriental, Dela Rosa makes sure that the job is done.
Dela Rosa could not hide his appreciation of Duterte, posting positive comments about him online that cost him the position as commander of the standby unit of PNP election force.
With the election of Duterte, Dela Rosa said he hopes that all police units across the country would share the same benefits that the Davao City police have experienced under the leadership of Duterte. “Nagpapasalamat ako. Sabi ko nga, kahit hindi niya ako piliin wala sa akin ’yun, masaya pa rin ako. What is important is for him to become president at kung ano ’yung na-experience nung mayor siya ay sana ma-experience ng buong kapulisan,” said Dela Rosa.
“So ’yun ang gusto ko. Lahat ng pulis happy kasi kapag siya ang president, lahat ng pulis happy. Grabe siyang mag-alaga,” he added.
“He is the leader who has very big balls,” Dela Rosa described Duterte as mayor of Davao City.
Dela Rosa is expected to assume the post immediately after Duterte takes oath as president on June 30 since Marquez has vowed to file a courtesy resignation as soon as President Aquino’s term of office ends.