Exclusive - Pangilinan Condemns Bato for Just Punishing Police With Push-Ups: 'Anong Klaseng Kabaliwan Ito?'

Senator Kiko Pangilinan slammed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief director general Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa for punishing cops involved in robbery-extortion cases of Korean tourists with just push-ups.

On his official Facebook and Twitter social media accounts, Pangilinan said that it is crazy that some alleged Korean drug offenders were hurt and killed when they refused to be arrested, while the policemen involved in these cases only received exercise as punishment.

“Anong klaseng kabaliwan ito?,” Pangilinan said. “Push-ups ang ipinakitang kaparusahan sa pitong akusadong pulis sa kasong robbery at extortion ng mga Koreano sa Angeles. Robbery at extortion ang kaso. Sa harap ng media, hindi sila kinulong, hindi sila dinis-armahan, hindi sila pinosasan."

“Sa harap ng media hinayaan pang isuot ang mga uniporme upang lalo pang dungisan ang imahen ng PNP. Kapag mahirap na 'nanlaban' na addict, pinapatay. Kapag abusadong kriminal na pulis, pinag pu-push up,” he added.

Pangilinan's co-senator Panfilo Lacson said Dela Rosa should not just limit the punishment to his policement by push-ups and scolding but should also undergo a "much-needed" internal cleansing.

“Magandang mensahe, symbolic ang push-up at ang mura and everything, but it should go beyond that. Ang hinihintay ng tao, ano bang positibong aksyon aside from meting out the appropriate or commensurate punishment?,” Lacson, who also served as the former PNP chief, said.

“After nito, anong gagawin para ang future incidents hindi na maganap? Yan ang mas importante,” Lacson said.

Last Wednesday, Dela Rosa condemned policemen from Angeles City who were involved with arresting three Korean tourists last December in order to extort cash from them. As a result, Dela Rosa ordered them to do push-ups.

"Ang lakas [ng loob] niyo maghablot ng Koreano, pu**** i**! Gusto mong sipain kita? Ang tapang ninyo. Next na magpunta ako dito, kayong mga opisyal pag meron pang ganitong kaso kayo ang parusahan ko. Yung tao niyo pinabayaan niyo," Dela Rosa said in front of the media covering the policemen doing push-ups as their punishment.

Dela Rosa recived public criticism after South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was murdered in their headquarters for allegedly being involved in drug operations.

What are your thoughts? Are senators Pangilinan and Lacson correct? Tell us in the comments section below!