MANILA – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa considers the kidnapping and murder of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, allegedly by rogue cops, the lowest point of his career.
Dela Rosa made this revelation on Wednesday in an interview over News5’s digital program “Isa Laban Sa Lahat”.
“That was the lowest point in my career. Gusto ko nang mag-resign dahil sa kahihiyan (I was so ashamed, I wanted to resign),” the PNP chief said.
“Normal na siguro ‘yan. Mabuti mga (Hapon) may harakiri. Hindi tayo sanay diyan, hindi ko kayang mag-ganun, kaya mag-resign na lang ako (It must be normal to think that. The Japanese have honor-suicide. We’re not used to that, so I’ll just resign),” he said, recalling that period.
Jee had been killed in October last year inside Camp Crame, PNP’s headquarters itself. His body was then taken to a mortuary owned by a retired police officer, then cremated. The ashes were then flushed down a toilet.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa also said he had no plans to change the way he was, despite some columnists calling him a “clown”.
The real “Bato”, he said, was goofy at times, but could punch or shoot a person when the situation called for it.
He was retiring next year, Dela Rosa said. He started the way he was, and would end his career being who he was. He was not about to tailor his personality to critics’ tastes.
