EDITORIAL - Dela Rosa should not do a Duterte

Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, apparently stung by media reports claiming a projected purchase of US made assault rifles has been scrapped because of a threat by a US senator to block the sale, has swiftly denied the reports, clarifying that the matter is simply undergoing review. He should have stopped at that.

But dela Rosa did not. He went on to criticize both the foreign media, which first reported the matter, and the local media, which subsequently picked it up, of being biased. There is, of course, no argument that certain sectors of the media, both in the Philippines and abroad, are slowly but very obviously getting eaten up by bias.

Nevertheless, this is not about media bias. The subject has previously been written about in this space, and most certainly will be again at some future time. This is about the need for dela Rosa to be circumspect, to know his proper place in the overall scheme of things. He cannot allow himself to get carried away by his emotions no matter how passionately he may feel about something.

To be sure, it is difficult to keep to you own place when your boss, who obviously is also your own idol, is setting an example that is very hard not to follow, especially if both of you happen to be of the same temperamental mode. But dela Rosa is where he is because he is supposed to be a cut above the rest. As such, he is supposed to be made of finer stuff.

One of the demands of being made of finer stuff is to be able to distinguish the finer distinctions that ordinary men often fail to see. Such demands are exceedingly high when these finer distinctions are what separate you and your boss. Such distinctions have to be made and clearly delineated because the truth of the matter is, you simply are not the boss.

Duterte has been quite liberal and generous with his rhetoric. Known for telling it like it is, Duterte has little regard for whoever displeases him. For as long as he is displeased with somebody or something, he speaks his mind about his displeasure, and never mind if his words are not couched in the niceties normally expected of people in such high places.

But if there is something that is arguably in Duterte's favor, it is the fact that he is the president, duly elected to his office in a clean and honest election, an election that did not hide the kind of person that he was, including his volatility and way with words. Dela Rosa, on the other hand, is not the president no matter how close and trusted he is by his boss. It may not be good for Duterte to lash out at media. But at least he is the president. Dela Rosa is not.