Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa bade goodbye to police service in tears on Monday, April 16.
During his final flag-raising ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa thanked the police force for their hard work in implementing the anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa also apologized to those who were disappointed at his performance as the PNP chief for a year and nine months.
“I did my my best” he said. “That’s all I want to convey. Whether I’m a good or bad father of the organization, it’s up to you to judge.”
He continued: “I don’t have to brag about it. You be the judge. If I had many mistakes, I’d like to say sorry.”
Citing some of his accomplishments during term as the PNP chief, Dela Rosa took note of the 19,086 drug offenders who were arrested during the 12,032 anti-illegal drugs operations nationwide from December last year until April 13.
He said these operations were “not at all a walk in the park because there were isolated life-threatening confrontations with armed drug suspects that necessitated the use of reasonable force by our operatives, thus resulting in 207 deaths from these police operations.”
“I am glad to take note of the responsiveness of the Police Regional Offices in heeding the call of the national leadership and the popular desire to rid our nation of the scourge of illegal drugs,” he added.
Dela Rosa also remarked that the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign will not end with his retirement.
“The commitment of the PNP in the illegal drugs campaign does not end with the retirement of Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa. Rather, we can expect more results-oriented operations under a new leadership that would infuse new blood into the campaign,” he said.
Dela Rosa will formally turn over his post as the PNP chief to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde on April 18.
Albayalde, meanwhile, vowed to do his best to “match, or even exceed” Dela Rosa’s performance.
“The Philippine National Police chief that we will follow is very amiable and well-loved by the public. I may not be able to fill in his shoes but I will do my best to match, or even exceed the public’s expectation of him and his responsibility,” Albayalde said.
