Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 13) — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday warned drug lords inside the national penitentiary he would come after them, as he accepted the President’s offer to become the next Bureau of Corrections head.
“Here I come. Kita-kita tayo (We’ll see each other),” dela Rosa told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of Congress’ joint session on the President’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao.
Dela Rosa confirmed he has accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to lead the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) when he retires from the PNP on January 21, 2018.
“Who am I to refuse the President? He will be my boss forever. Hindi ako puwedeng aayaw sa pagpapatrabaho niya sa akin (I cannot say ‘no’ to a job he offers),” he said.
He said he was offered the post in July when the illegal drug trade resurfaced inside the nation’s penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, one of the seven correctional institutions under the bureau’s supervision.
The tough-talking cop also expressed his apprehension in taking the “challenging” job.
“Fear ko I will not meet the expectations of the President… Mahirap talaga. The question that has been lingering in my mind is how can you solve a problem like BuCor,” he said.
But Dela Rosa is determined to rehabilitate the country’s jails and correctional institutions, especially the national penitentiary where high-profile inmates and convicted drug lords are detained.
“Abangan niyo ang gagawin ko doon para malaman. I will account all drug lords inside the Bilibid. Kung nasaan sila, ano ginagawa, at ano dapat gawin sa kanila,” he said.
Back in July, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a probe and case build-up on the “reported resurgence” of illegal drug trade in the Bilibid.
Dela Rosa also said members of the police Special Action Force (SAF), who were assigned to secure Bilibid, are under investigation over claims linking them to corruption at the correctional facility.
CNN Philippines’ Joyce Ilas, Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
