Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday said there is no need for Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, to resign despite the kidnapping of a Korean businessman allegedly by rogue policemen who killed their victim inside the national police camp.
The two senators differed from the opinion of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who had urged Dela Rosa to resign after the grisly murder “right under his nose.”
Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was abducted at his Angeles City home on Oct. 18 last year and was strangled inside a car parked near the PNP headquarters building in Camp Crame where Dela Rosa holds office. The kidnappers extorted a P5-million ransom from Jee’s wife on Oct. 31, nearly two weeks after he was kidnapped, killed and cremated.
Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, has called for an inquiry into the “tokhang for ransom” case.
Gauging leadership failures
Alvarez, who is among the administration’s top allies in Congress, said Dela Rosa should save President Duterte “from further embarrassment” by stepping down.
Pimentel said “different people have different standards” for gauging leadership failures.
“For the Speaker, his line has been crossed. Hence, we respect his opinion on the matter. For me, the killing of the Korean has been solved, hence, why punish Bato with termination?” Pimentel said.
“Let’s call for his resignation if he fails to act and solve even some of the unexplained killings happening all over the country,” he said.
