Lacson willing to understand Bato’s ‘ingrates’ remark

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday said that although he might disagree with Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa he is willing to understand his recent “ingrates” remark.

Dela Rosa earlier called the critics of the administration’s war on drugs “ingrates.”

“You can criticize us to high heavens, but I can tell you straight sa mata: Inggrato kayo,” Dela Rosa said.

Lacson, also a former PNP chief, however, said he understands where Dela Rosa is coming from.

“All I can say is, I can feel his frustrations in the midst of the Kian, Carl and Kulot controversies confronting the PNP,” Lacson said in a statement.

“I may not be supportive of such outbursts coming from the country's top law enforcer but I'm willing to extend some allowance and understanding of such reaction to the PNP critics,” he added.

Dela Rosa made the statement a day after the Senate held a hearing on deaths of teenagers, allegedly at the hands of police officers.

READ: Bato to drug war critics: You're ingrates

The PNP chief defended the anti-illegal drug campaign saying the public benefited from the peace and order it brought.

A recent Social Weather Stations survey revealed that fewer Filipinos fell victim to common crimes but fear of crimes remains. Respondents of the survey said fear of unsafe streets increased in Mindanao.

According to the government's #RealNumbersPH, there are 3,811 drug personalities who died in anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to August 29, 2017. It added that there were 70,854 anti-drug operations conducted by the police.