Bato warns bombers targeting Cotabato police stations

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - The firebrand Police Director Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday warned to bomb the houses of people behind the attacks on two police stations in Cotabato City in what was for local residents another hyperbole meant to scare the culprits.

Dela Rosa, who visited Tuesday the regional police headquarters of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Camp S.K. Pendatun in Parang town in Maguindanao, said investigators are now trying to establish the identities of the bombers.

“Kung makikilala sila ay ipa-granada din ang kanilang mga bahay,” he said, short of endorsing lex taliones (law of retaliation), the biblical “eye-for-an eye” justice system.

Investigators said it is possible a syndicate was behind the detonation last week of a military-type smoke grenade near the main police precinct at the downtown area in Cotabato City.

The incident was followed by an attempt to bomb last Monday another police station at the Rosary Heights District in Cotabato City.

A still unidentified man lobbed a fragmentation grenade at the roof of the police station but the blasting contraption of the explosive malfunctioned.

Dela Rosa, while in Camp S.K. Pendatun, warned to prosecute to the fullest extent of law any member of the ARMM police involved in any criminal offense.

He said he would never tolerate any involvement of a policeman in narcotics trade either.

Dela Rosa said policemen hooked to methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) shall be dealt with harshly too.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Maricar Echavez, a senior member of the multi-sectoral advisory council of the ARMM police, were among dozens of representatives from the local sectors who welcomed Dela Rosa at Camp S.K. Pendatun.

Mangudadatu on Tuesday reiterated anew his administration’s support to the anti-narcotics campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.