MANILA, Philippines – Ronald dela Rosa does not hide his feelings.

And so the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) rationalizes his recent outburst, where he called the critics of the government’s war on drugs a bunch of “ingrates,” and was immediately lambasted by citizens.

“I feel frustrated? I feel sad? Ipapakita ko sa inyo. Hindi ako plastik. Sabihin ‘nyo nag-flare up ako. Yes, nag-flare up ako dahil masakit sa akin na gano’n palagi ang sinasabi,” Dela Rosa told reporters on Monday, October 9.

(Am I frustrated? Sad? I will show it. I am not fake. You can say that I flared up. Yes, I did, because it hurts me to hear the same comments all the time.)

Dela Rosa was referring to critics who have slammed the police force for their alleged involvement in extrajudicial and vigilante-style killings since President Rodrigo Duterte declared a bloody drug war.

“Hindi ako pulitiko na magpapa-cute sa inyo kahit galit na, na ayaw ipakita kahit masama na ang loob, ayaw ilabas ang damdamin,” Dela Rosa added. (I am not a politician who will try to look cute even if I’m mad, who wouldn’t show that he’s hurt, who would refuse to show his feelings.)

The PNP chief admitted that he was caught off-guard by reporters’ questions last October 3, prompting him to answer explosively. (READ: Dela Rosa accuses media of painting PNP as drug war ‘villain’)

“Pasensya na ‘yung tinamaan sa aking…sinabihan ko ng ingrato. That’s a spur of the moment na reaksyon ko,” he explained. (I apologize to those who were hurt by me calling them ingrates. That was a spur-of-the-moment reaction.)

Nonetheless, Dela Rosa refused to take back his words, reiterating that the critics benefit from the peace and order brought about by the PNP’s unrelenting battle against crimes and drugs. (READ: Except for killings, all crimes drop in Duterte’s 1st year)

“Bakit, hindi ba sila nakinabang sa ginagawa natin? (Why? Don’t they benefit from what we have done?),” Dela Rosa said.

He said being a policeman is a thankless job. “We are not requiring gratefulness from them or thanks from them. Trabaho namin ito (This is our job),” he said.

Response to Pimentel

In another chance interview with reporters earlier on Monday, Dela Rosa hit back at Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, who had questioned what the police was doing amid an increasing number of killings. 

Dela Rosa advised the legislator to ask people on the ground about public safety instead of himself.

“‘Di ako makikipag-away. Pero kung magtatanong siya ng peace and order, dapat hindi ako ang tanungin niya. Tanungin niya ang mga ordinaryong tao sa kalsada. Magtanong siya doon kung ano’ng pakiramdam ng mga tao ngayon kung may pagbabago ba talaga,” Dela Rosa said.

(I won’t pick a fight. But if he is asking about peace and order, he shouldn’t ask me. He should ask the ordinary people in the streets. He should ask them what they feel, and if they see the change.)

Pimentel earlier slammed Dela Rosa over the killing of Puerto Galera Councilor Melchor Arago and his 15-year-old son, since, according to Pimentel, the PNP’s incompetence has “emboldened” criminals to wreak more havoc in the streets.

What do the people think? According to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations, 7 in 10 Filipinos are worried that they or people they know will be killed lawlessly.

Still, Dela Rosa maintained it is unfair for the public to expect the PNP to all the time anticipate crimes before they happen. – Rappler.com