PNP Chief Bato Lambasts CBCP Over Tokhang "Props" Remark: Wow! Kayo Lang Ba Ang Banal?

The Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa lambasted the catholic leaders of The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday.

Over the weekend, the CBCP commented about the relaunch of  Oplan Tokhang that the PNP's plan to bring bibles and rosaries when they knock on doors will be mere "theatrics."

To which Dela Rosa didn't take too kindly. According to him, it was the harshest comment he has ever received from the Catholic Church.

“Please tell them you don’t have the monopoly of the Catholic religion. Hindi porke’t kayo ang mga obispo, kayo ang mga pari, kayo lang may karapatang maghawak ng Bibliya at magdala ng rosaryo,”

The PNP Chief commented that instead of strengthening the faith of the nation as what would have been expected from Catholic priests, they are instead trying to alienate the police.

“Porke pulis lang kami, hindi kami karapat-dapat? Wow! Kayo lang ang banal? Porke kayo ang pari, kami makasalanan na?”

Oplan Tokhang has been on hiatus for nearly four months because it was prompted by allegations of irregularity.

With the relaunch, Oplan Tokhang has new guidelines. In the new rule, policemen who go from house to house seeking for suspects' surrender can only do so during office hours.

And in the event that the suspect refuses to surrender, he will then be endorsed to a new police team for a case build up.

As what PNP Chief always says, "the rule of law" will always prevail in any anti-narcotics efforts, but people should also understand that the results will also always depend on the reaction of suspects. 

"Alangan namang pabayaan namin ang mga sarili namin na mamatay kami kung armado at makipagbarilan ang drug personalities?"

Source: ABS-CBN