Gen Bato Dela Rosa was an instant celebrity at Boracay as people rushed to him to take selfies.
Gen Bato as he is popularly known, or Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, took his timeout and chilled with the whole family at Boracay Island.
Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) chief Police Insp. Jess Baylon said that General Bato wanted to take a break after the two-day Senate hearing last week where he was invited as one of resource persons on extra-judicial killings in the country after the government’s declaration of war against illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, despite tight security, the dubbed “coolest PNP chief in history” was an instant celebrity because of his being game to taking pictures and even selfies to tourists and Aklan locals.
“Napakabait niya, napaka-tatay niya sa mga kapulisan… Dinudumog siya dito… Approachable… Parang celebrity siya dito sa Boracay”, said Baylon.
(He was so kind, he was so fatherly to the police men… He was approachable… He was like a celebrity and people rush to be near him)
Actually, it was on a side trip because before chilling, Gen Bato visited city, provincial and regional offices in the Visayas since Thursday, August 25.
He installed the new acting regional director of Police Regional Office 18 based in Negros Island Region, Police Chief Supt. Renato Gumban, after Police Chief Supt. Conrado Capa has retired.
Before going to Boracay, Gen Bato was invited special guest to the Leader’s Convergence of PNP Patrol 2030 in Iloilo City.
With this year’s theme, “Hamon ng Pagbabago, Pinag-Ibayong Serbisyo”, Bato also lead the inauguration of the new barracks of Regional Public Safety Battalion in Region 6 concurrently held with the 115th Police Service Anniversary of Police Regional Office 6 headquarters at Camp Martin Teofilo Delgado.
Baylon happily confirmed that Gen Bato lauded accomplishments of BTAC especially the arrest of 25 foreigners, including 18 Taiwanese and seven Chinese, who are allegedly involved in cybercrime and drug syndicate.
On the other hand, twenty (20) brand new motorcycles where distributed to 17 police stations under BTAC, Aklan Police Provincial Office and Aklan Provincial Public Safety Company to improve their patrol visibility and mobility of the police in the province.