Bato: Give 'scalawag' cops a chance at redemption

MANILA, Philippines – Reminiscent of the biblical parable of the prodigal son, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked the public to give his erring cops a chance to redeem themselves.

The nation’s top cop, who styles himself as a father of the national police force, defended anew his move to send the so-called “scalawag cops” to the conflict-stricken city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur province.

Dela Rosa firmly believes that reassigning erring cops to Mindanao will have a positive outcome, contrary to criticism that they will only worsen the situation, which is now on its 50th day.

READ: Lorenzana: We don’t need problematic cops in Marawi

“Huwag kayo mag-alala you may term them now as scalawag, but I guarantee you, after their stint in Marawi, they will become the most reformed policemen in the PNP,” dela Rosa said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“Magbago at magbabago sila, mga tao lang iyan. Please give them a chance to reform themselves,” he added.

A batch of "scalawag" cops sent to Basilan earned praise in March for their help during flash floods in the province.

Among the erring cops who were sent to Marawi were PO1s Jose Tandog and Chito Enriquez, who were caught on video hitting citizens in their custody.

The two were tagged as “Yantok cops” after Tandog was seen hitting two men accosted for violating a Mandaluyong City ordinance prohibiting drinking in a public place past curfew with a yantok stick. Enriquez was also punished for not stopping Tandog.

He said in TV interviews that he was shocked into doing nothing.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana opposed the reassignment of Tandog and Enriquez, saying security forces in Marawi need the best people and not "problematic cops." 

“If you throw people here who are problematic, bibigyan lang natin ng problema ‘yung mga commander dito,” Lorenzana insisted.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, who is also spokesperson for the provincial crisis committee, also objected Dela Rosa's decision.

“To use the Marawi Seige as a punishment shows insensitivity. Hindi po tayo dito basurahan para sa mga abosado at tiwaling pulis ng Metro Manila,” Adiong said on his official social media account.

Dela Rosa, however, claimed that forces battling Maute terror group in Marawi City positively welcomed the erring cops as they have additional “warm bodies” to fight rebels.

While he reassigned Tandog and Enriquez, the PNP chief assured the public that the investigation into and deliberation on their cases are still ongoing.

“Tinapon sila doon pero ang kaso nila ongoing at puwede silang matanggal sa serbisyo. Hindi ko naman sila pwede i-dismiss agad without due process,” he said.

As for the future reassignments of erring cops, dela Rosa insisted it will still continue and so will his soft and forgiving heart.

“Tuloy lang,” the PNP chief said.