The Philippine National Police is not exactly in the best of places now.
Controversy has hounded the police organization for a long time. In recent memory, there was Mamasapano. Allegations that some members of the PNP are involved in criminal syndicates or are not screened properly for any sign of mental imbalance. And with the entry of the Duterte administration, supposed extra-legal operations where suspected drug users or drug pushers are arrested because of planted evidence, or alleged resistance to arrest.
Just last week, we were dumbstruck at how a detained drug suspect, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, was shot dead in his cell at the sub-provincial police station. That police officers were called to the Senate to give their own account of the fantastic incident did not help allay our fears that we were not necessarily safer with this present batch of cops.
And while all the attention was in Leyte, in the mysterious death of the mayor who may have known too much, the head of the PNP was nowhere near here.
Director General Ronald dela Rosa was instead in the United States, providing moral support to boxing icon—incidentally, also senator—Emmanuel Pacquiao from his front-row seat to the event.
Dela Rosa came home a few days later, as part of the Pacquiao entourage. At the airport he appeared uneasy, as though he were trying to make himself inconspicuous. It was impossible he did not realize the gravity of what just happened in Leyte, especially in relation to the government’s war against drugs but also the questions on human rights violations.
But he chose to stay and enjoy the match—and some other perks from the pugilist-senator. Dela Rosa has admitted Pacquiao took care of his and his family’s airfare, accommodations, even some allowance.
Now he is home to take the heat, and rightly so.
It is inconceivable that Dela Rosa, for his position, would be blissfully ignorant of anti-graft laws. He has no excuse whatsoever, and he has to answer painful questions. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales will look into whether Dela Rosa could be liable for graft for accepting Pacquiao’s treat.
The PNP already has a lot on its plate, and it has yet to show the people it is their protector above anything else. What on earth was the chief thinking — if he ever did so, at all?