By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte has announced that he will extend anew the term of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to sustain the reforms in the police force.
President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The President admitted that he needs Dela Rosa to stay "a little bit longer" to clean up the police force.
"There are scoundrels, scalawags in every organization. That's why the PNP (chief) now who is supposed to retire on 24th of April and because he enjoys my trust and confidence, I will extend his term for a little bit longer," Duterte said during the induction of new officers of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Inc. in Malacañang.
“I was reading the state of affairs. I said I would need somebody still to continue with the reforms so General Dela Rosa popularly called Bato will have an extended term," he added.
Duterte said while he was so far satisfied with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), he must still institute "continuing reforms" with the police. "The police has always been a problem," he added.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in a chance interview with reporters, said Dela Rosa's term might be extended for three months.
Dela Rosa was supposed to retire last month, but the President decided to extend his service until April. Duterte later said he would appoint Dela Rosa as the next head of the Bureau of Corrections after his term extension.