Pubdate: Sat, 27 Aug 2016
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2016
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Jaime Laude, With Gilbert Bayoran, Giovanni Nilles

BATO SORRY FOR REMARK ON BURNING OF DRUG LORDS' HOUSES

It was an "unacceptable" statement and he was sorry.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela 
Rosa yesterday apologized for his statements calling on addicts to 
burn down the houses of suspected drug lords.

Facing hundreds of drug surrenderees in Bacolod City on Thursday, 
Dela Rosa had urged them to burn the houses of drug lords or kill them.

"Pour gasoline over their houses then light them up. Show them that 
you are angry over that they did to you. They're enjoying (your) 
money, money that destroyed your brain. You know who the drug lords 
are. Would you like to kill them? Go ahead. Killing is allowed 
because (you) are the victim," Dela Rosa told the assembled drug 
surrenderees in Bacolod.

A day later, Dela Rosa apologized for his incendiary remarks, which 
he said were made out of frustration with illegal drugs.

"I was just frustrated. I was in front of poor people. The pushers... 
I am sorry for that unacceptable statement. Many have reacted. Am 
sorry. I am just human and was angry," he said.

Dela Rosa however did not offer his apologies to the policemen he 
sacked for their involvement in illegal drug operations.

While acknowledging that he may have hurt the families of policemen 
linked to the illegal drug trade, Dela Rosa said he would not 
apologize for what he did to them.

When asked about the possibility that he could have made a mistake, 
Dela Rosa clarified that what he did to the errant policemen was not 
an act of condemning or declaring them guilty.

"I will not apologize," Dela Rosa said, adding that in shaming them 
he was issuing a reminder that he was father of the police organization.

"If they have been hurt, I was also deeply hurt," he added.

Dela Rosa ordered the relief of 32 policemen, including two ranking 
police officials, from the regional police force.

He cursed at the policemen gone astray and challenged them to a 
fistfight in front of local media.

As the father of the PNP organization, Dela Rosa said he would not 
allow any member of the police force to be hurt, but he will not 
allow the image of the PNP to be tainted by scalawags.

"To those police officers who are doing right, I am willing to die 
for them," he said.

Malacanang however defended Dela Rosa in his "arson" statements, 
saying it's nothing but bluster and a passionate call to resist drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom