Drug war critics only a minority – Dela Rosa

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the critics of the government’s war on drugs are only a minority.

In his speech during the 116th Police Service Anniversary of the Cagayan Valley regional police, Dela Rosa urged the police to remain unfazed even as criticisms have been hurled against them.

“Huwag kayong mahiya kahit anong criticize nila. You should stand tall and hold your heads high. Dahil alam kong deep inside your heart, yung laman niyan is to serve and protect the Filipino people,” Dela Rosa said.

(Don’t be embarrassed by whatever they criticize. You should stand tall and hold your heads high. Because I know deep inside your heart, you want to serve and protect the Filipino people.)

He added that the Senate majority “approves what we are doing” and only the minority are “noisy.”

A recent survey, however, suggested that more Filipinos doubt police anti-illegal drug operations.

On September 27, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released the results of a survey conducted in June which said that more Filipinos do not believe many of those killed in police operations fought back.

The SWS survey said 49% of the Filipinos agree with the statement: “Many of those killed by the police in the anti-drug campaign are not really drug pushers.”

In the poll, 30% disagreed while the remaining were undecided.

‘Ungrateful masters’

Dela Rosa made the statement the day after he called the drug war critics a “bunch of ingrates.“

“You can criticize us to the high heavens but I can tell you straight sa inyong mga mata, ‘yung mga critics sabihan ko kayo, ingrato kayo. Alam kong nakikinabang kayo sa peace and order na idinulot sa ating war on drugs,” Dela Rosa said on Tuesday, October 3.

(You can criticize us to the high heavens but I can tell you straight in the eye, you critics, I tell you, you are a bunch of ingrates, I know you also benefit from the peace and order brought by the war on drugs.)

In an interview with reporters here, the chief of police clarified that it is “too much” for him to ask people to thank the police.

“I am not asking you to be grateful to us. No, as human being lang nasabi ko yun. Nasasaktan din kami. Tila ba we are working we are serving an ungrateful master,” Dela Rosa said.

(I am not asking you to be grateful to us. I was able to say that only because I am a human being. We get hurt too. It’s like we are serving an ungrateful master.)

He also denied being arrogant in his statement and that he uttered those words out of frustration. – Rappler.com