Bato: Duterte order to reinstate Marcos boosted PNP morale

MANILA, Philippines – Despite the criticism from citizens and senators, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said President Rodrigo Duterte's to reinstate officials charged with the killing of a Leyte town mayor boosted police morale.

Facing the Senate investigation, dela Rosa said Wednesday that police now know they have someone to run to.

“Nakakataas ng morale because the president is a man of his word,” the PNP chief said. “Sinabi niya, ‘kapag kayo nagka-problema sa trabaho niyo, nandito ako. Hindi ko kayo pabayaan.'”

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

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs launched an investigation into the reassignment of Superintendent Marvin Marcos and other members of the Crime Investigation and Detection Group in the Eastern Visayas who have been charged with homicide over the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Raul Yap, another inmate.

Marcos and his team are facing homicide cases, but were returned to active duty last month after serving their suspension. 

Committee chair Panfilo Lacson and other senators lambasted the reinstatement of the suspects despite findings of a previous Senate investigation that the killing was premeditated. This was also the conclusion made by prosecutors, who recommended murder charges against the police officers.

The Department of Justice has since downgraded the charges to homicide, which is a bailable offense.

READ: Bato: Cops accused of killing mayor deserve due process

'Killing was in line of duty'

The nation’s top cop, however, insisted that the actions of Marcos’ team were “in line of duty.”

“Ang ginawa lang ni Marcos ay in line of duty, so tinulungan lang siya na pagtrabahuin ulit so nakakaka-high morale,” dela Rosa said.

“Well, sa amin sa pulis, sa nakikita namin, (parang) wala na kaming nagagawang tama, puro mali nakikita nila samin. We must as well be ready to seek the help of the president,” he said, speaking for an organization that is sworn to uphold due process in the performance of its duty.

Dela Rosa noted in previous statements that the criminal cases against Marcos and his team are still ongoing even if they have been returned to active duty.