PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has decided that Director General Ronald Dela Rosa will remain in his position as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), even as there are calls for his resignation over the death of a South Korean businessman.
According to case details, Jee Ick-joo, in his 50s, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by three police officers in October.
The officers were part of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, following which they were accused of also trying to extort money from Jee\u2019s wife over his disappearance.
When it was revealed that Jee was killed within police headquarters, the public called for Dela Rosa to step down, even several lawmakers, such as House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who is an ally of Duterte.
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Dela Rosa has previously said he was\u00a0willing to leave his post if Duterte ordered\u00a0him to do so, and even admitted that he had personally offered the president his resignation.
However, Duterte has ruled the Dela Rosa, also known to many as \u201cBato\u201d, will remain.
\u201cHe stays there. Bato has my complete trust,\u201d Duterte told GMA News in an interview.
Dela Rosa has been a key figure in Duterte\u2019s bloody war on drugs, as human rights groups have criticised the police for carrying out extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers.
According to police figures, over 7,000 people have been killed during the course of the crackdown on drugs, with some questioning its effectiveness.
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\u201cA genuine recognition of the root of the problem should go beyond blaming Dela Rosa, and instead condemn the drug war policy that has produced human rights violators and criminals out of the men and women of the PNP,\u201d said Senator Leila De Lima in statement over the weekend, as reported by Reuters.
In response to the public\u2019s concerns over whether a fair and thorough investigation will be conducted, Presidential Spokesperson Ernersto Abella has assured them that there will be no cover-up or whitewashing of the incident.
\u201cWe will not tolerate corrupt, abusive, errant policemen who betray the organization and the men and women in uniform who continue their faithful, dedicated and loyal service to the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n