MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa knows he cannot weed out all scalawag cops before retiring in January 2018, so he vowed to take them down even during retirement.

Addressing all Philippine cops on Monday, November 27, about their return to the drug war, the Director General threatened to kill erring cops “vigilante” style. (READ: Dela Rosa on PNP’s drug war return: ‘We have learned a lot of lessons’)

“Baka makakita kayo ng 4-star general to lead vigilantes against scalawag police. Hindi ko kayo aatrasan,” Dela Rosa said.

(You might see a 4-star general leading vigilantes against scalawag police. I will not back down.)

Dela Rosa was alluding to the bloody killings that marked President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against drugs, with critics accusing cops as the perpetrators. Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied this.

Knowing that he will not enjoy the same powers and privileges as he does now, he said he does not fear them retaliating.

“Alam kong maraming galit sa akin, lalo na mga ninja cops. Magpapatayan tayo kahit saan pa tayo magpapang-abot, di ko kayo aatrasan. Remember, iisa lang ang buhay natin. It’s either buhay ‘nyo o buhay ko,” Dela Rosa said.

(I know many are angry at me, especially the ninja cops. Let’s kill each other, I will not back down. Remember that we all have one life. It’s either your life or my life.)

‘Next to impossibility’

In a later press conference, the top cop clarified that he would only settle for vigilante-style killing by his own personnel under extremely bleak circumstances.

“Kung umabot ang punto na wala nang magawa, naghaharian na ang mga drug lords dito sa Pilipinas, sila na ang nagco-control ng lahat, wala nang law and order…magbi-vigilante ako, makikipaglabanan ako, kung maghahari lang,” Dela Rosa said.

(If only there comes a point where we cannot do anything anymore, if drug lords rule the Philippines, if they already control everything, if there is no more law and order…I will go vigilante-style, I will fight, only if they rule.)

“That is a very, very extreme situation, next to impossibility,” Dela Rosa added.

In January 2018, Dela Rosa will hit 56, the mandatory retirement age for the uniformed service.

This supposed final call follows the top cop admitting one mistake in their drug war: charging against the narcotics trade before cleansing their ranks of erring cops.

PNP had to do the two tasks simultaneously when they led the campaign, and intensified the internal cleansing efforts only after they were pulled back the first time.

“Isasama ko kayo sa retirement ko ‘pag kayo gumawa ng kalokohan (I will bring you with me in my retirement of you mess around). I will be retiring back to Davao & you will be retiring inside the prison jail. If not, you will be retiring 6 feet under the ground,” the top cop added. – Rappler.com