‘Bato-bato sa langit’
Despite the two-hour delay, guests of the Manila Overseas Press Club patiently waited for Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was the guest speaker for the MOPC’s “PNP Forum” last Tuesday. I was unable to make it due to an invitation I received to join President Rodrigo Duterte for his official trip to Japan.
The event was very successful with all the major news networks such as ABS-CBN, GMA, ANC, CNN and TV5 showing up to cover the general who came straight from a command conference at Camp Crame. It was really touch and go because a day before the event, the office of the PNP chief asked that the original noontime schedule be moved to 6:30 in the evening — and yet all the tables at the Big Room of Manila Golf were still filled with guests — proving that people were eager to hear the latest on the administration’s war on drugs.
In his speech, Dela Rosa admitted that they were surprised to discover just how widespread the drug problem in the country has become, but the PNP will continue with its “rock-hard determination” to eradicate the drug menace.
The open forum that followed the PNP chief’s keynote speech was lively, with the audience impressed by Dela Rosa’s ability to parry tricky questions with wit and humor, including rumors that he is being groomed for the Senate in 2019. “Politics is good if you want to serve; politics is bad if you just want to make money,” he remarked.
Asked how he wants to be remembered when his stint ends in 2018, Dela Rosa — who disclosed that a Chinese businessman lent him a bulletproof Land Cruiser to ride around in to ensure his safety — said he just wants to be known as the PNP chief who was able to make the streets safer and remove the fears of the people.
