Lawmakers keep on pressing Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa to tender his courtesy resignation and urged President Duterte to “let him go” over the “scandalous” murder of kidnap victim South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo inside the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, said it was embarrassing that the incident happened “within his house” and perpetrated by members of his household.
“Kung ako si PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, magte-tender ako ng courtesy resignation kay Presidente,” Acop said in a radio interview.
“I will not let the President decide on the suggestions or recommendations of other people. Ako na mismo ang magte-tender ng courtesy resignation ko. Kasi nangyari sa aking bahay at sarili ko pang mga tao ang involved,” Acop, who served as comptroller during the time of PNP chief now Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, said.
“For the PNP, it is a big blow. One, it happened within the national headquarters. Two, mabuti sana kung sibilyan ang gumawa kaso sarili nilang mga tao ang gumawa ng krimen. Kaya double whammy sila,” Acop said.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Hayaang Yumabong party-list Rep. Lito Atienza and Citizens Battle against Corruption partylist Rep. Sherwin Tugna also called for Dela Rosa’s resignation.
“We support the call for him to resign and that is a major failure of the (PNP) leadership and a big scandal for the country and the Duterte administration and the ongoing war on drugs. There is no way he can retain himself and we urge the President to let him go and choose a better man who will not be an embarrassment to his anti-illegal drugs campaign,” they said. (Charissa M. Luci)