MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine police’s “The Rock” again softened on Tuesday during the Senate Committee on Public Order’s hearing as he cried and expressed his “hurt” feelings over allegations that it was the policy of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to kill suspects amid the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
PNP chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa told Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros during the Senate panel’s inquiry into the killings of two teenagers by Caloocan cops that there was no truth to allegations of a policy of widespread killing, adding that President Rodrigo Duterte did not instruct police officers to just kill without observing the rule of law.
He told the senator that he was willing to go back to Davao if Hontiveros would be able to prove the existence of such alleged policy.
“Nand’yan si Lord. I’m willing to go back to Davao pag na-prove mo ‘yan, your honor,” Dela Rosa told Hontiveros.
“‘Di ako papayag, your honor, na gagamitin ang pulis sa masama [I wouldn’t allow our policemen to be used for bad purposes],” he said.
Hontiveros told the PNP chief that “God also knows” that she was seeking accountability from those behind the said policy that she was addressing to the Office of the President to “find a long-term solution.”
“At kahit ako, masama ang loob ko sa ngayayari, pero kailangang nating tanungin ang mga tanong na ito [I also feel bad about what’s happening but we need to ask these questions],” she added.
Dela Rosa replied that there was no instruction from Duterte to kill people and that he was finding it hard to convince people like Hontiveros and defend his men because the minds of critics were already closed.
“Sabi ko sa’yo walang sinabi si Presidente sa aking pumatay ka nang pumatay. Masakit sa akin ‘yan,” he said.
“Paano ko dedepensahan ang organisayon ko…kung utak n’yo sarado na?” added Dela Rosa.
Hontiveros said the purpose of the hearing was to “find out the truth” but the PNP chief said critics should stop conditioning the minds of people the police’s policy is just to kill and kill because this is very painful for him to accept.
“Huwag i-precondition ang utak ng tao na polisya na pumatay nang pumatay. Napakasakit po sa akin,” said Dela Rosa.
Click and watch PNP Chief Ronald delos Reyes waxing emotional in a spirited exchange with Senator Risa Hontiveros below:
