Ronald dela Rosa

Ronald Marapon dela Rosa (born January 21, 1962), also known as Bato,[2] is a Filipino politician and retired Police General who is currently serving as Senator of the Philippines since 2019. He was Philippine National Police Chief from July 1, 2016 to April 19, 2018 and Director General of the Bureau of Corrections from April 30 to October 12, 2018.[4]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Marapon and the surname or paternal family name is dela Rosa.
The Honorable

Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa

Ph.D., CSEE
Dela Rosa as PNP Chief
Senator of the Philippines
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Chair of the Philippine Senate
Public Order and Dangerous Drugs; Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation Committee
Assumed office
July 22, 2019
Preceded byPanfilo Lacson
Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections
In office
April 30, 2018 – October 12, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byAsec. Valfrie G. Tabian (Acting)
Succeeded byUsec. Nicanor Faeldon
Chief of the Philippine National Police
In office
July 1, 2016 – April 19, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byPDG Ricardo C. Marquez
Succeeded byPGen. Oscar David Albayalde
City Director of the Davao City Police
In office
January 2012 – October 2013
MayorSara Duterte (2012–2013)
Rodrigo Duterte (2013)
Preceded byPSSupt. Rene Aspera
Succeeded byPSSupt. Vicente Danao
Personal details
Born
Ronald Marapon dela Rosa

(1962-01-21) January 21, 1962
Barangay Bato, Santa Cruz, Davao (now Davao del Sur), Philippines[1][2]
NationalityFilipino
Political partyPDP–Laban
Spouse(s)
Nancy Comandante
​
(m. 1989)​
Children3
Education
Net worth₱33 million[3]
(Dec. 31, 2019)
Other namesBato, Duroy (PMA)
Police career
Allegiance Philippines
DepartmentPhilippine Constabulary (former)

Philippine National Police
Service years1986–2018
Rank Director General (2016–2018)

Early life and education

Dela Rosa was born on January 21, 1962 at Barangay Bato, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, to Teodoro Diamaton dela Rosa Sr. and Anesia Cruspero Marapon.[1][2] His family was "dirt poor" as his father earned little money working as a tricycle driver.[5][6] The young Dela Rosa worked as a fish market porter and bus conductor.

Dela Rosa is a senator who went to Mindanao State University (MSU) to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration.[2][7][8][9] In 1982, he left MSU to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and graduated in 1986 as part of PMA Sinagtala class.[9][10] He then earned a Master of Public Administration degree in 1998 and a Ph.D. in development administration in 2006 from the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City.[11][12]

Dela Rosa completed a Scout Ranger Orientation Course, Police Intelligence Officer Advance Course, Police Officers' Comptrollership Course, and the Police Safety Officer Course. He also attended training courses of the FBI Academy and U.S. Army Ranger School in the United States, and Air Marshal Instructors Course by the Australian Federal Police.[7][13]

Dela Rosa was nicknamed "Bato" during his first assignment in Davao, when his upperclassmen likened his body to a rock.[n 1][6]

Police career

Early career (1986–2012)

Dela Rosa joined the police force in 1986 as a Lieutenant of the now-defunct Philippine Constabulary[n 2] in Davao City.[12] In 1992, he was designated as Chief Inspector and worked as one of the staff at Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao. In 1997, he was designated as police provincial director of Compostela Valley province. In 1999, he was assigned to the office of the Police Director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame in Quezon City. In 2001, he returned to PRO-Davao and continued his service as deputy chief of the Office of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource and Development Division (ORPHRDD) of Region XI. In 2003, he was promoted to Police Superintendent and was assigned to Camp Catitipan in Davao City. He was then transferred to the Directorate for Human Resources Doctrine and Development as head of training. In 2005, he was assigned to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) as city personnel officer. After eight months, he was transferred back to PRO-Davao and was promoted as chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID). In 2007, he became the director of the Compostela Valley Provincial Police Office (CVPPO) as its police chief. In 2008, he was promoted to a rank of Senior Superintendent. In 2009, he was moved to Davao del Sur where he served as director of the Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office (DSPPO). In 2011, he became the chief of the Regional Logistics and Research Development Division (RL-RDD) in PRO-Davao. In 2012, he was assigned to Davao City as the new director of the Davao City Police Office.[2]

Davao City Police Chief (2012–2013)

Dela Rosa served as the chief of the Davao City Police Office from January 2012 to October 2013 under Mayors Sara Duterte (in office: June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013) and Rodrigo Duterte (in office: June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016).[16][12] In 2012, he led the crackdown on the carnapping syndicate allegedly masterminded by Ryan "Baktin" Yu.[17] In July 2013, he headed the successful rescue of the kidnapped Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Sally Chua.[18][19] He also directed the implementation of Oplan Tokhang (Cebuano portmanteau for tuktok, "knock", and hangyo, "persuade") a campaign against illegal drugs where the police literally knock on the doors of suspected drug users and distributors and persuade them to cease their illegal activities;[20] and Oplan Pakgang, (Cebuano portmanteau for “Pitulon ang Kabatan-onan sa Gang”, “Disciplining Youths in Gangs”) where the police, through a series of lectures and discussions, discouraged Davao City's youth from joining criminal gangs and other illegal activities.[21][22]

Camp Crame (2013–2016)

After serving as Davao City Police Chief, Dela Rosa was assigned to the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame where he worked for the PNP Intelligence Group from October 2013 to December 2014.[4][12][23]

In 2015, Dela Rosa became a member of the PNP Board of Inquiry which investigated the Mamasapano clash. The aforementioned incident claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force commandos, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front members and five civilians while the cops were on a mission to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Marwan.[24][25][26]

Dela Rosa also served as the executive officer of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (HRDD).[4][12][23]

A few days before the May 9, 2016 Philippine general election, Dela Rosa was relieved as brigade commander of the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) of the Philippine National Police allegedly due to his Facebook posts seen to be in favor of then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte. A Facebook status posted on May 1, 2016 which had gone viral read:

I am the Brigade Commander of the PNP RSSF composed of 8 battalions close to 5,000 personnel based in Camp Crame. Kayong mga mangdadaya at mangliligalig ngayong ("those who would cheat and terrorize on the") May 9 elections, humanda na kayo ("be warned")! WE WILL CRUSH YOU!!!

Another Facebook post dated April 26, 2016 said:

It’s time for Batman vs Emilio Aguinaldo. Who will win? The fictional superhero or the real Filipino hero?

During the PiliPinas Debates 2016 – Luzon leg, the third and final presidential debate, Duterte said that his main campaign donor was Emilio Aguinaldo, while Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas quoted Batman. However, Dela Rosa's commanding officer at that time, PNP deputy chief for operations Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino, denied that Dela Rosa's Facebook posts were the main reasons why he was relieved of his duty. According to Deputy Director General Constantino, Chief Superintendent Dela Rosa was relieved from the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) so that he could focus on his responsibilities as executive officer of the PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (HRDD). Nonetheless, Constantino stated that the PNP Internal Affairs Service will investigate Dela Rosa's Facebook posts for possible administrative liabilities as the officers of the Philippine National Police are required to be neutral and apolitical during the elections.[27][28][29][30]

On August 25, 2016, the newly appointed Chief of the National Police stated “You know who these drug lords are. Do you want to kill them? Kill them. It’s okay because you're the victim here.” “If you want, you know who these drug lords are. Go to their houses. Pour gasoline in their houses, set it on fire. Show them you’re angry,”[31][32][33]

Rise to prominence as head police chief and BuCor director (2016-2018)
Main article: Philippine Drug War
President Rodrigo Duterte meeting with PNP Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa in the Malacañan Palace, August 2016.

Dela Rosa was handpicked by then presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte as the new PNP Chief on May 19, 2016.[13] On July 1, 2016, he was officially sworn in as the 21st chief of the Philippine National Police while being promoted to Director-General, the highest-ranked PNP officer.[4] In October 2017, Dela Rosa accused Vice President Leni Robredo of having political ambitions to become president despite still working in her current job. After a few days, he hinted that he himself may run for president in 2022 and would double the pay of police officers if elected.[34][35] He was set to retire on January 21 due to the mandatory retirement at age 56, but his term was extended for 3 months until April 21, 2018.[36]

During his stint as PNP chief, Dela Rosa made the headlines regularly as he led the controversial drug war and Oplan Tokhang operations throughout the country.[37] Several groups including human rights groups and religious leaders strongly objected Dela Rosa and President Rodrigo Duterte's initiatives. The controversy has been widely condemned locally and internationally for the number of deaths resulting from police operations and allegations of systematic extrajudicial executions including planting fabricated evidence to make it appear a suspected drug personality has possession of drugs and resisted arrest from authorities. The drug-related killings reached up to the United Nations Human Rights Council as it caused a death toll total of 12,000 according to reports of news organizations and human rights groups. On 2019, during his campaign Dela Rosa took pride of it as it lessened the crime rate and resulted into millions of drug personalities surrendering to the authorities.[38]

In May 2018, Dela Rosa was appointed as Director General of the Bureau of Corrections. He held the post from April 30, 2018 until October 12, 2018.[39]

Political career

Senator of the Philippines (2019-present)

Dela Rosa placed a bid for a Senate seat and won placing fifth overall, garnering 19 million votes in the 2019 Philippine Senate election. Dela Rosa took office on June 30, 2019.

In August 2019, Dela Rosa became controversial when he said in an interview that convicted rapist-murderer & former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez "deserves a second chance". Dela Rosa mentioned that "if it is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole that he deserves that commutation, then why not? He deserves a second chance in life."[40] He drew flak among netizens who opposed his remark and behavior after he also went angry on a student leader who mentioned and raised the issue and mentioned what Dela Rosa said regarding Sanchez' possible release while on a Senate hearing about bringing back the mandatory ROTC for senior high school students.[41] Dela Rosa said that the question was "irrelevant to the topic that was being discussed" during the session.[42]

Despite some issues that was raised against him, Dela Rosa still became productive in his first months in office. Dela Rosa has already filed numerous bills including bringing back the capital punishment to the country specifically for drug traffickers which is yet to be passed.[43] Among the initial bills he prioritized were an act regulating the use of government ambulances, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, police scholarships for qualifying students in all barangays, establishing crisis center for street children in every region in the Philippines, the creation of Barangay Community Peace and Order Council, and the job training for mature or older workers.

Personal life

Dela Rosa has been married to Nancy Johnson Comandante since 1989, and they have three children together.[44][45][46][47] During his wedding, then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte stood as one of the principal sponsors.[12] Duterte and Dela Rosa had known each other since 1986.[48] He has described Duterte as "the greatest influence" in his career.[28]

In May 2017, dela Rosa's only son, Rock, entered the Philippine National Police Academy as a cadet.[49][50]

On June 19, 2017, dela Rosa was the guest of honor and speaker at the celebration of José Rizal’s 156th birth anniversary. He claimed that he was related to the national hero through a common ancestor named Ines dela Rosa.[51]

Dela Rosa is a Catholic.[52] In a June 2016 radio interview on DZMM, Dela Rosa mentioned that he frequently goes to confession to seek forgiveness after he has killed criminals, declaring that he is "no cold-blooded killer".[53]

Since he became the PNP chief, he has appeared or guested in several TV shows, most notably in the Trabahula segment of ABS-CBN's noontime variety show, It's Showtime,[54] and GMA's Sunday variety show, Sunday PinaSaya where he met Rodney "Dugong" Juterte, President Rodrigo Duterte's comedic impersonator portrayed by Jose Manalo.[55]

Dela Rosa is a longtime fan of PBA team Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.[56]

On November 21, 2020, Dela Rosa announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 after having a swab antigen test on the night before. He became the fifth senator to contract the virus. Prior to this, he has physically attended some Senate sessions, with the most recent being on November 18. He has advised his close contacts to "do the appropriate protocols".[57][58][59][60] Dela Rosa recovered for COVID-19.[61]

Dela Rosa is portrayed by Robin Padilla in Adolfo Alix Jr.'s 2019 biographical action film Bato: The General Ronald dela Rosa Story.[62]

See also

Notes
  1. Bato is the Tagalog and Cebuano word for "rock" or "stone".[14][15]
  2. On January 29, 1991, the Philippine Constabulary was merged with the Integrated National Police to form the Philippine National Police.

References
  1. "FamilySearch".
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  3. "TABLE SUMMARY: 2019 STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH As of December 31, 2019" (PDF). senate.gov.ph. Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  4. De Jesus, Julliane Love (July 1, 2016). "It's official: Dela Rosa is new PNP chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  5. De Jesus, Julliane Love (July 10, 2016). "What made 'Bato' cry". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  6. Hontiveros, Pia (June 9, 2016). "The 'Bato' we don't know". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
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  8. Umel, Richel (January 26, 2017). "Dela Rosa speaks before grads in Marawi". SunStar Philippines. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  9. Alawi, Rebekah (January 2017). "Gen. Dela Rosa's MSU Visit as Commencement Speaker: A Nostalgic Homecoming to What Once his Field of Dreams". Mindanao State University. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  10. Dalizon, Alfred P. "More on PMA Class 1986". Journal Online. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  11. University of Southeastern Philippines - Ronald dela Rosa Congratulatory Tarp
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  13. Felipe, Cecile Suerte (May 19, 2016). "Davao's 'The Rock' is next PNP chief". Philstar Global. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  14. Nigg, Charles (1904). A Tagalog English and English Tagalog dictionary. Manila: Imprenta de Fajardo y Compañía. p. 12. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
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  27. Mellejor/Carillo, Ayan/Lovely (4 May 2016). "Davao's The Rock 'bato' and Vin Diesel Gen. Dela Rosa relieved (May 4, 2016)". The Mindanao Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  28. Felipe, Cecille Suerte (May 4, 2016). "Police general axed for FB posts on presidential bet". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
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  30. Cudis, Christine Joice C. (May 4, 2016). "Ex-Davao City police chief relieved". Sun.Star Davao. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  31. Jesus, Julliane Love De. "Dela Rosa to former drug users: 'Burn down houses of drug lords'". Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  32. "You are being redirected..." www.sunstar.com.ph. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
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  35. "Bato dela Rosa hints at possible presidential bid". philstar.com.
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  37. Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (28 January 2018). "What you need to know about Oplan Tokhang". Sun Star. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  38. Woody, Christopher (September 5, 2016). "The Philippines' president has declared a war on drugs, and it's turned normal people into hired killers". Business Insider. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  39. Corrales, Nestor (3 May 2018). "Dela Rosa officially appointed as BuCor chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  40. Mercado, Neil Arwin. "Dela Rosa: Mayor convicted of rape, murder 'deserves second chance'". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  41. "Filipinos hit Sen. Bato dela Rosa for 'second chance' remarks on Antonio Sanchez". Interaksyon.com.
  42. "Sen. Bato hits NUSP president for criticizing his second chance remark about Sanchez possible release". news.mb.com.ph.
  43. "Dela Rosa files death penalty, ROTC bills". Sunstar.
  44. "God, wife, ghosts spook not-so-fearless 'Bato'". ABS-CBN News. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  45. Takumi, Rie (July 20, 2016). "PNP chief is tough on criminals but has a soft side, too". GMA News. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  46. Caballero, Angelo (October 30, 2016). "PNP chief Bato's son seeks to follow dad's footsteps". ABS-CBN News Davao. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  47. Farolan, Ramon (June 27, 2016). "Ronald and Nancy at the White House". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  48. Gita, Ruth Abbey (July 1, 2016). "Dela Rosa assumes post as PNP chief". SunStar Manila. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  49. Felipe, Cecille Suerte (May 2, 2017). "Bato's only son now a PNPA cadet". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  50. "Anak ni Bato: Rock dela Rosa joins PNPA". ABS-CBN News. May 1, 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  51. De Jesus, Julliane Love (June 19, 2017). "Dela Rosa says he's a 'proud descendant' of Jose Rizal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  52. Bolando, AJ (February 6, 2017). "Bato to bishops: I can talk to God without you". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  53. "Bato: I am no cold-blooded killer". ABS-CBN Corporation. June 10, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  54. "WATCH: New PNP chief visits 'It's Showtime' (July 21, 2016)". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  55. "Bato dela Rosa, nakaharap si Rodney Juterte". GMA News. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  56. Ramos, Gerry (October 7, 2016). "As a Ginebra fan, PNP chief Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa is as solid as a rock". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  57. "Dela Rosa says he tested positive for COVID-19". Philippine Star. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  58. "Dela Rosa tests positive for COVID-19". ABS-CBN News. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  59. "Senator Bato dela Rosa catches COVID-19". CNN Philippines. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  60. "Bato dela Rosa tests positive for COVID-19". GMA News. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  61. "Dela Rosa recovers from COVID-19, considers donating blood plasma". ABS-CBN News. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  62. Lo, Ricky (January 23, 2019). "Robin: Playing Bato a big challenge". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
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