Bato: Cops accused of killing mayor deserve due process

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa shrugged off criticisms that the reinstatement of Superintendent Marcos and 18 others accused of homicide promotes impunity.

Dela Rosa said Thursday that he has nothing to do with the decision of their Internal Affairs Service while insisting that the investigation went through due process.

“Na-reinstate na. Na-resolve na ‘yung kaso. Hindi naman ako nag-decide noon, may investigation naman na dinaanan, may IAS na nag-imbestiga at nagpatakbo sa kaso niya,” the nation’s top cop said in an ambush interview in Mandaluyong City.

READ: Duterte repeats promise to protect cops following his orders

“Well, pinakita naman natin na gumana ‘yung justice system natin, hindi ba? That's normal. Kung ‘yung drug pusher or drug lord may kine-claim sila na due process, e bakit hindi natin puwede ibigay doon sa pulis na dumaan sa due process,” he added.

According to government data, 3.200 drug suspects have been killed in police operations with 2,098 of 12,833 homicides have been found to be drug-related. Another 8,200 deaths are still under investigation to determine the motives behind the killings.

Marcos, along with other members of PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), were charged with murder for killing Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was in custody for drug and guns related charges, and another inmate inside their cells at the Baybay sub-provincial jail in Leyte last year.

President Rodrigo Duterte, on Wednesday, reiterated that no police officer or soldier will be put behind bars for doing their jobs, as he guaranteed to protect them from prosecution.

READ: Lacson on Duterte's order to reinstate Marcos: Put*ng I*a

The Department of Justice against Marcos and others were downgraded to homicide, paving the way for their temporary liberty after paying bail. On Thursday, he was assigned to head the CIDG in the Soccsksargen region.

“Ito ngayon ngayon ‘yung naging decision bakit hindi natin matanggap hindi ba? Dela Rosa continued while admitting the decision of was lower than the public is expecting.

Senators hit reinstatement

Some senators, particularly Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who conducted a separate investigation into the killing of Espinosa, were frustrated over the “back to duty” status of Marcos.

READ: 19 cops in Espinosa slay to return to duty

“In sum, there is a phrase to describe this whole damn thing: Put*ng I*a!” Lacson, a predecessor of dela Rosa in the PNP, said.

"I think it will be more prudent for the PNP to hold whatever promotion or movement dahil nga merong outcry dito sa Senate na paano nangyari ito, at maraming oras ang naubos dito sa investigation, and the fact should be reviewed twice or even thrice para malaman natin kung paano nagkaiba ang investigation ng DOJ at ng Senado," Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, an administration ally, said at a press briefing on Thursday morning.

He said, however, that the PNP and the DOJ should have advised the president better.

"This reinstatement to active duty may further tarnish the PNP as an institution that should value and uphold the rule of law in the performance of duty," Sen. Grace Poe said. "Such reinstatement may just encourage a culture of impunity among the ranks. The PNP could very well carry out its duties in protecting our people without somebody like Marcos and his cohorts."

Sen. Bam Aquino, meanwhile, called the reinstatement a danger to the Filipino people.

"Ito'y malinaw na pagbalewala sa mga umiiral na batas at nagpapalakas pa sa kultura ng karahasan," as he called on the government to stop protecting cops accused of crimes and to let justice take its course.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party and a member of the Senate minority, said the reinstatement is disturbing. "We hope the members of the Senate majority who signed the committee report [on the Senate probe on Espinosa's death] will close ranks and fulfill its duty to act as a check and balance on the executive branch," he said.

Last year, dela Rosa also revealed that he dismissed Marcos after he received information about his drug-related activities in Leyte. The PNP chief, however, declined to reveal the “higher power” who ordered Marcos reinstatement on the same day.

Duterte later admitted that it was him.

Asked for his advice to Marcos and others, dela Rosa said they have to prove themselves with the chance given to them.

“Magtrabaho sila ng mabuti, magtrabaho sila ng maayos at ipakita na matino siya na pulis.”