Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is the right man for the job as Bureau of Correction director.
This was according to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who on Friday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to name Dela Rosa as the next Bucor head after the latter retires as PNP chief.
The DoJ chief said Dela Rosa's experience as PNP chief will be “very useful in addressing the problems” in the BuCor.
Bucor is an attached agency of the Department of Justice tasked to supervise the country’s penal colonies including the New Bilibid Prison from where gang leaders allegedly conduct 75 percent of the country’s drug transactions.
“I was consulted several months ago on his forthcoming appointment as BuCor chief. I wholeheartedly agreed and supported it,” Aguirre said.
“BuCor needs the kind of caliber of General Bato to solve its very difficult problems”
Dela Rosa is supposed to retire on Jan. 21 next year when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56, but Duterte said he would extend the PNP chief's term of duty by two to three more months.
Aside from the NBP, BuCor also supervises the Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte, Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.
As this developed, Dela Rosa expressed gratitude to the President to the PNP’s supposed “many victories” and for overcoming trials in the service in 2017.
“Lubos ang aking pasasalamat na nalampasan natin ang mga mabibigat na pagsubok sa kapulisan nitong nakaraang taon at inilayo tayo sa panganib sa pagsulong natin ng kapayapaan at katahimikan sa ating mahal na bayan,” the PNP chief said.
“Higit sa lahat, lubos ang aking pasasalamat na binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng pagkakataong maglingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino bilanf mga alagad ng batas at tapagtanggol ng mamamayan,” he added.
“We end 2017 with deep gratitude in our hearts for the countless blessings and many victories we have achieved during the year and we look forward to 2018 with great optimism as we receive from the good Lord the gift of another year of service,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said the Christmas season is an opportunity for the PNP to “renew and strengthen” their commitment as law enforcement for the coming year, as well as “reflect” on the significance of Jesus Christ’s birth in their lives.
“We must remember that Jesus Christ is the ultimate public servant whose selfless service and the sacrifices he made for mankind must inspire us as we perform our duties to serve and protect our country,” he said.
“Bilang ama ng PNP, hangad kong maging maligaya at makabuluhan ang Paskong ito para sa lahat at maging mapayapa ang pagsalubong natin ng bagong taon,” he added.
Under Dela Rosa’s watch this year, PNP helped the Armed Forces liberate Marawi City from ISIS-inspired militants of the Maute group.
The PNP was also tasked to assure overall peace and security in the country for a sound hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit held last November.
Still, the PNP in 2017 remained the subject of local and international criticism related to its anti-illegal drug operations part of the Duterte administration's war on drugs campaign.
The allegations of human rights violations committed have prompted the president to transfer to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency the authority to lead the anti-drug campaign.