Bato seeks law sparing PNP from political influence 

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Wednesday said he is pushing for legislation to institutionalize organizational reforms in the Philippine National Police (PNP) to remove political influence within police ranks.

If given another chance to be elected, Dela Rosa vowed to continue seeking amendments to the provisions in the Local Government Code that allow local chief executives to choose the chief of police in their cities or municipalities.

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, believes that removing political influence among the police ranks is “the only way” to maintain professionalism in the PNP.

“I've been a policeman my whole life. The most productive years of my life ginugol ko d'yan sa kapulisan kaya alam ko what ills our organization,” he said, citing political influence as one of the biggest challenges the police organization faces.

“Kung ano talaga ang pinakamalaking problema sa aming organisasyon, 'yang pakikialam ng mga pulitiko sa aming hanay. 'Yan ang pinakamabigat,” (The biggest problem in our organization is the interference of politicians in our ranks. That's the heaviest),” he further stressed.

In the 19th Congress, Dela Rosa sponsored and defended Senate Bill 2249, which sought to amend the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.

However, the provision seeking to remove local chief executives' power to choose their city or municipal chief of police was not included in the final version of the bill.

Dela Rosa agreed to remove the provision to preserve other reforms included in the bill, such as setting the retirement age at 57 years old. However, the proposed measure was ultimately vetoed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

He then vowed to continue promoting a more professional PNP, free from political influence.

“Maganda sana sa Philippine National Police para maging professional talaga, tanggalin 'yung koneksyon nila sa pulitiko, 'yung control ng mga politicians over the PNP, tanggalin dapat yan...kasi hangga't nand'yan 'yan ma-politicize talaga ang PNP,” Dela Rosa said.

"Let the PNP decide who, by merit, is going to be the provincial director, the regional director, the chief of police of every municipality. Tanggalin 'yung probisyon sa Local Government Code na ang pulitiko ang pumili," he added.