Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa maintained that he would not submit police spot reports to the Senate without President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.
During the Senate hearing on the drug-related extrajudicial killings on Thursday, September 15, Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon asked dela Rosa to submit the spot reports of the killings that were documented since July 1, 2016. He added that the reports will help move the Senate investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the administration’s war on drugs.
Drilon added that the spot reports were initially submitted to the Senate committee on justice and human rights, but they were pulled out.
Asked why that was the case, dela Rosa said the reports were given to Duterte since the President wanted to read them first.
“Your honor, the spot reports are with the President. According to him, he’s going to read them and he will give it back to us and we give it to you,” the PNP chief told Drilon.
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But Drilon pressed on, asking if all the spot reports were really with Duterte.
“Yes, your honor, dahil sabi niya ibigay ko raw sa kanya,” dela Rosa said.
As Drilon continued to question him, dela Rosa responded, saying he was torn between the orders of the senator and the president.
“Your honor, I would like to put it on record na wala po kaming tinatago. Gustong gusto ko po na ibigay na yun pero kinuha ng Presidente, your honor. Kaya sino susundin ko, ikaw o president? The President ordered me to submit it to him,” dela Rosa said.
The committee chair Senator Leila de Lima interjected, asking dela Rosa to stop his “antics” as it is showing disrespect to a senator.
Drilon continued to put emphasis on the importance of those spot reports to the Senate probe, calling the reports as “the best evidence as to what happened at least in the initial investigation.”
“It is almost simultaneous investigation that is why it has high degree of credibility para Makita naman natin paano reaction ng mga presinto dito sa nangyayaring namamatay,” he said.
Drilon also asked dela Rosa if the police spot reports are covered by the 166 exceptions to Duterte’s Freedom on Information executive order. The PNP chief said they are not.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, pointed out that unlike his time when they used typewriters, computerization nowadays makes it easier to submit reports to the committee.
Dela Rosa committed to submitting the spot reports as soon as possible, but only after getting Duterte’s approval.
Source: (rappler.com, youtube.com)
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