Bato: Ex-President Duterte as anti-drug czar will bring back fear to ninja cops, syndicates

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday expressed support for Senator Bong Go’s proposal to appoint ex-President Rodrigo Duterte as anti-drug czar, saying this will bring back fear to cops and syndicates involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Ako, personally, maganda sana kasi babalik ang takot ng mga drug syndicates, particularly ‘yung mga pulis na involved—‘yung mga ninja cops. Matatakot at matatakot talaga ‘yan,” said Dela Rosa, who was chief of the National Police at the height of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

[Personally, it [idea of Duterte as drug czar] is good since it would strike fear on drug syndicates, in particular to ninja cops. They will really be frightened.]

While the suggestion is good, Dela Rosa said it will still depend on Malacañang if they will offer the post to Duterte and if the former President will accept it.

“Haimabawa nabo-bore na siya sa buhay niya sa Davao ngayon na relaxing na masyado, tatanggapin niya kung i-ooffer,” Dela Rosa said.

[For example, if he is getting bored in Davao, he might accept it if offered to him.]

During the Senate public order and dangerous drug probe into the P6.7 billion shabu haul in Manila last year, Go—Duterte’s confidant, asked Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda if he thinks Duterte would be helpful if ever he would be appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as an anti-drug czar.

In response, Acorda said he would support any step that would help in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Go raised the question after expressing concern that the efforts of the Duterte administration would be put to waste, considering that the issue that is being investigated was the alleged involvement of some cops in the P6.7 billion confiscated drugs.

In October 2022, now-dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. was arrested after authorities confiscated around 990-kilogram of shabu following a series of anti-drug operations in Manila.

Mayo is an intelligence officer for the PDEG, based on police records.

Police officers allegedly pilfered around 42 kilos of shabu from the illegal drugs seized from Mayo.

Due to the alleged cover-up of the incident, criminal and administrative charges were recommended against 49 PNP officials and personnel. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News