Bato Dela Rosa Remains As PNP Chief, President Duterte Says

President Duterte: PNP Chief Dela Rosa To Remain On His Post

President Rodrigo Duterte said that PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will remain in the position despite the accusations against him, regarding the death of the Korean businessman.

On Sunday (January 22, 2016), the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Dela Rosa celebrated his belated 55^th birthday at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame with the presence of Philippine President Duterte.

The president said that Dela Rosa has his complete trust on implementing the anti-illegal drug campaign and he will remain as the PNP chief, despite several issues and controversies against him over the death of the South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo.

The PNP chief was urged to resign by several lawmakers including House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez after the kidnapping and the murder of Jee inside Camp Crame. The Korean business was allegedly killed by the police group who were assigned in implementing Oplan Tokhang as a part of Duterte’s war on drugs.

Mr. Duterte also explained that he and the speaker would not attend the birthday celebration of the PNP chief if they had a plan to dismiss Dela Rosa from his post. Alvarez also said that they were united as a group.

Dela Rosa expressed his disappointment and he was insulted by the calls urging him to resign, especially coming from a solid supporter of the president. Both Alvarez and Dela Rosa serves in Davao, while Duterte was still the mayor.

Earlier, the speaker wanted Bato to resign as PNP chief regarding the murder of the Korean businessman and to spare President Duterte from embarrassment.

Jee was detained by the policemen using a fake arrest warrant last October 18, 2016, but he has murdered also on that day. Policemen extracted P5 million ransom money from the family of the Korean businessman without knowing that Jee was already dead.