MANILA, Philippines – “Tao lang tayo, nasasaktan pero wala tayong magagawa.”
These were the words uttered by Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa when asked how he deals with criticism, one year after taking the helm of the country's police force.
The most jovial PNP chief in the recent history of the national police force has already faced a ton of problems: from the bloody operations in the war against drugs, to issues of abusive cops involved in kidnap-for-ransom schemes, illegal drug trading and the alleged “palit ulo” scheme.
But Dela Rosa wears a smiling face, a change from the stern looks of his predecessors.
This characteristic made him popular with the Filipino masses and, like a celebrity, he is always ready to take selfies during gatherings or even on regular days.
However, in some instances, the happy man has also shown his fuming side. At times, he has failed to keep his emotions in check -- he cried during a Senate investigation into the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was shot by police while in government custody.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez once called for Dela Rosa’s resignation in January to save President Rodrigo Duterte from further embarrassment after Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was found to have been killed by rogue police right in Camp Crame.
Alvarez accused the PNP chief of being more interested in having a showbiz career, singing videoke and watching concerts than being a police officer. He also hit the “booboos” of dela Rosa, including panicking at a press conference when a confiscated firecracker started smoking.
Alvarez backtracked within days and attended the police chief's birthday party.
Dela Rosa was also criticized when he punished erring cops from Pampanga with doing push-ups, when he give contradicting reports at the height of Resorts World attack and when he said there was nothing wrong in keeping detainees in a narrow, inhumane “secret cell” hidden behind a bookshelf in a Manila police station.
More supporters than critics
He was tagged by some senators as “Kanto Boy” but the 55-year-old top cop of the country said he knows he can’t please everyone.
“Kasama ‘yan sa tseke, kasama ‘yan sa suweldo ko na tinatanggap,” dela Rosa in a press briefing on Tuesday. “’Yung mga atake na ganun, once you are in public service you are open sa mga attacks.”
Despite the difficulties, he believes that there are more people who still trust and support him and the administration in their drive to fix the country.
“Mas maraming supporters ah. Siguro sa social media nagco-comment doon, mga 10 percent nagki-criticize 90 percent ‘yung tuwang tuwa sa ginagawa natin,” dela Rosa said.
“Hindi ako nagmamayabang, ah, observation ko lang.”
The former Davao City police chief has only six months left to serve the country before his mandatory retirement on his 56th birthday next January, but he vows to help Duterte in any possible way, including a run for senator in 2019.