Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa Jr. (Senate PRIB)
The ‘’stone’’ of the Senate cried. Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was so angry and frustrated with the active policemen being linked to killings and other acts of violence in Negros Oriental, that he couldn't help but shed tears. Negros Oriental is the province of controversial congressman Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, cried and could hardly speak when he closed late last night the three-day public hearing of his Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee. The hearings were triggered by the brazen March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. He told policemen that they should change for the better, conscious of their sworn duties as the police organization is being pummeled hard by reports of cops being cowed or influenced by political kingpins to undertake illegal acts. Dela Rosa said his becoming a policeman afforded him to send his children to school. This goes for other PNP personnel, he added. Flanked by ranking PNP officials and soldiers during the hearing, Dela Rosa said they were wrong to think that he was happy to preside over the marathon hearings. He said he is tipping his hat to the policeman and soldiers who are morally upright. He sadly noted that there is "reign of terror" in Negros Oriental. Addressing Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, and some 50 residents who came to the Senate to testify on acts of violence, killings and land grabbing, Dela Rosa said: ‘’When the price to pay for telling your story might be your very life, it is easier to turn your back and stay silent.’’ ‘’Thank you for your courage. This is want we need to put an end to his ‘reign of terror’,’’ the senator said.