AMID the political clash between the Marcos and Duterte families, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa yesterday claimed the PNP has recalled the police escorts detailed to his home in Davao City.
This was immediately debunked by the PNP Public Information Office in a statement.
“That’s fake news according to the PSPG (Police Security and Protection Group),” the statement said.
In a phone interview with the Senate media, Dela Rosa said when he returned to Davao City from a campaign sortie last Monday, he found out that the two security escorts assigned to his house have not been reporting for duty.
Dela Rosa, who served as the first PNP chief of former president Rodrigo Duterte, said he has two sets of police escorts – one group assigned in Davao and another group in Metro Manila. He said he split his escorts’ assignments to save on his travel expenses.
As a former PNP chief, Dela Rosa is entitled to have at least two security escorts, and as a senator, he was provided security by the PSPG.
Dela Rosa did not mention how many PSPG personnel were assigned to him or what mother unit his Davao escorts belong to.
Dela Rosa said that while the recall of his police security escorts is part of the normal PNP personnel accounting process, he found it peculiar that it happened at a time when the Duterte camp is having a conflict with the Marcos administration.
“Hindi yan panggigipit ng PNP. Nag-iingat lang sila na hindi sila masilip na may mga tao sila dineploy sa akin… Mainit man ang gobyerno sa akin, di ba? Tapos malaman na may tao sila sa akin naka deploy, kaya nag-iingat sila (That’s not irregular. The PNP is just being careful as it does not want higher ups to find out that it has cops deployed to me… We are presently not in good terms with the administration that’s why their commander is just being careful),” he said.
He said several retired cops and soldiers volunteered to serve as his security escorts, and he picked four to accompany him wherever he goes.
ICC ARREST
Dela Rosa said he changed his mind about peacefully surrendering to authorities when the ICC issues an arrest order against him as part of his strategy.
He has announced that he will go into hiding once the ICC orders his arrest.
Dela Rosa said that if the president can flip-flop on his position about not participating with the ICC probe, then he, too, can his mind.
“Yun atin namang mga ginagawa ay purely reactions lamang. Magbago sila, magbago rin tayo. Alangan naman hindi tayo magbabago eh lugi tayo kung hindi tayo magbago, di ba? Sila pabago-bago, mag-adjust din tayo sa kanila,hanggang reaction lang naman tayo. Sila ang nagbibigay ng stimulus sa ating reaction (What I am doing is purely reactionary. They [the administration] changed their minds, I will also change my mind. It cannot be that they are the only ones who can change their minds since I will be on the losing edge. They are giving the stimulus for my reaction),” he said.
He said he learned such strategy as a cadet in the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated in 1986.
“Hindi puwedeng magiging fixed tayo. Otherwise, sitting ducks tayo kapag tayo’y fixed ang ating posisyon. Sana maintindihan ninyo. I have to survive all these trials that are thrown before us (I cannot be fixed [on one pronouncement]. Otherwise, I will be a sitting duck if my position is fixed. I hope the people will understand. I have to survive all these trials that are thrown before us),” he added.
Dela Rosa reiterated that the only time he will surrender to authorities is when he is cornered by law enforcers.
“Kung ang hawak nilang warrant of arrest was issued by a local court, yan puwede akong magpa-aresto. Pero kung ang hawak nila ay galing sa ICC, hindi ako magpapa-aresto… Kung maipit nila ako, maa-aresto nila ako
(If the warrant of arrest is issued by a local court, then I will allow myself to be arrested. But, if it is from the ICC, I will not surrender… If they get me cornered, they can arrest me),” he said.
Dela Rosa said he has no plans of leaving the country or go on disguise so just he will not be arrested, as he hinted that seeking refuge with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is an option.
He said he has been freely roaming parts of the country for his reelection campaign knowing that there he has no warrant of arrest.
DAVAO RALLY
The PNP said security measures are being finalized in connection with protest rallies that Duterte’s supporters are planning to stage in Davao del Norte on Friday.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the PNP is expecting a large number of people to attend the rally, which will coincide with the 80th birthday of Duterte.
The rally is due to be held at the Rotary Plaza in New Correla town in Davao del Norte.
Fajardo said the Davao police regional office is coordinating with local government unit officials to iron the security preparations for the rally.
“We expect many people will attend (the rally) considering that the former president is from Davao,” she said, adding that they are still waiting word from local government officials to have a clearer picture on the attendees of the rally.
“Based on that figures, we’ll determine how many (policemen) we are deploying,” she said.
“But as a normal procedure, the PNP will have a sufficient security coverage to ensure security and safety of those who will attend the activity,” she added. – With Victor Reyes
