SEN. Ronald dela Rosa has said policemen should be prepared to kill or be killed in the government’s fight against illegal drug traffickers and other criminals.
Dela Rosa, who is seeking reelection under the banner of the PDP-Laban, made the statement as he thanked the TBoli indigenous peoples for declaring him as an adopted son of the tribe.
He said he does not mind being criticized for ordering illegal drug traffickers and criminals killed when he was the PNP chief who spearheaded the intensified war on drugs of the Duterte administration.
“Anong gagawin ko? Nag-pulis pa ako kung hindi ko kayang gawin ‘yan. Huwag kang mag-pulis if you are not ready to die, if you are not ready to kill and be killed. Kailangan mo ‘yan para ma-protektahan ang sarili mo, dapat ready kang mag-depensa sa sarili mo. Useless kang pulis kung hindi mo kayang protektahan ang mga peace-loving people (What will I do? My being a cop would be nothing if I did not do that. Do not join the police force if you are not ready to die, if you are not ready to kill or be killed. You need to do that to protect yourself. You should always be ready to defend yourself. You are a useless cop if you cannot protect peace-loving people),” he said.
He lamented that the gains of the Duterte administration in the fight against illegal drugs is allegedly “slowly going to waste.”
During the event, Dela Rosa thanked the T’Boli tribe for naming him as their adopted son. He was given the name Datu Kemling, which means defender/protector.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, hindi po masasayang ang inyong pag-adopt sa akin. I will make you proud being your adopted son of the T’Boli tribe (I assure you that I will do my best to prove I am worthy of your adoption. I will make you proud being your adopted son of the T’Boli tribe),” he said.
He also vowed to continue to craft bills to protect indigenous peoples and push for measures that will enhance the fight against illegal drugs, among others.
