MANILA, Philippines – Amid controversy, Ronald dela Rosa still believes in the goodness of his cops, so they have to prove it.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General had this to say to the police force on Tuesday, August 29, in his address at the 116th PNP Service Anniversary celebration of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3) in Pampanga.

“Nakakalungkot isiping meron pa ring mga tiwaling pulis, mga pulis na sumisira sa imahe[n] ng PNP (It is saddening to know that there are still corrupt policemen ruining the image of the PNP),” Dela Rosa said.

“But I know in my heart that there are more good policemen than bad ones, and I am leading a truly strong, dedicated, and loyal police force. Panindigan natin ‘to (Let’s commit to this).”

Dela Rosa’s remarks come as the PNP is entangled in another controversy – the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos in a drug raid in Caloocan City. Cops claimed Delos Santos fired at them first, but witnesses’ testimonies and CCTV footage indicate the boy was a victim of an extrajudicial killing.

After expressing his faith in cops, Dela Rosa echoed President Rodrigo Duterte and reminded the police to stop “committing crime” and “the extrajudicial killing pictured by the human rights [advocates].”

“Malinaw ang sinabi ng Pangulo (The President’s message is clear). And I therefore remind you again to always be guided by our Police Operational Procedures,” Dela Rosa said. (READ: How the PNP’s one-time, big-time operations work)

Change in tune

Like the President, Dela Rosa has since tempered his remarks about the relaunched war on drugs after the death of Delos Santos. (READ: After Kian slay, Duterte tempers messaging on drug war)

Before outrage grew over the boy’s killing, the top cop had dismissed the rising number of deaths in police operations as “normal.”

When he first heard of Delos Santos, Dela Rosa reluctantly apologized to the slain teenager’s parents, but quipped that he prefers his own cops standing after a gunfight rather than drug suspects.

He then told cops to stop planting pieces of evidence on suspects.

Now, while saying that the drug war should remain unrelenting, Dela Rosa also cautioned cops that the nation’s eyes are on them.

“Let us not allow the misguided members of the PNP to drag us into more trouble. The entire nation is looking at our every move. Gawin nating tama ang bawa’t galaw natin (Let us make every move right).” – Rappler.com