Perhaps it is an over-compensation on Bato’s part, for seemingly being Peter-principled into the position of PNP chief. This perceived lack of seriousness, and inability to shut his mouth when in the hot seat, is now turning him into perhaps the greatest liability of the Duterte campaign against crime. However, he is perceived as doing too much public relations work, and being too much of a goofball in front of the media, when it is perhaps more desirable that he be stoic, less on media, and more focused on the anti-crime drive. Bato dela Rosa can be given the benefit of the doubt as to the sincerity in his desire to clean up the ranks of the PNP. Campaigns that live on the force of the personality at the helm, also get weakened, and die, by that very same personality. The force of personality alone, especially with both Duterte and Bato, is not enough to bring about change. Unfortunately, one of two weaknesses – a fundamental one of Duterte’s administration, in fact – has become inexcusable. Practicality, however, must reign in any case, and the practical question to ask is: if Bato were to resign, who would replace him? Whom else does, or can, Duterte trust to carry out his anti-crime and anti-drug campaign? It follows, then, that Bato should resign, if only to demonstrate that Duterte’s administration truly is different – that major lapses, even among Duterte’s closest aides, are not condoned. Normally, when embarrassing failures like this come to the surface, Filipinos are wont to demand the resignation of the erring official. To be fair, however, Bato and Duterte, from the start, have faced an uphill battle: the odds have always been against them, not only because both narcotics and crime have protectors among the government and public officials, but also because they also have to deal with institutionalized corruption and depravity within the police’s own ranks. However, that a foreign national could not be kept alive, much less protected – inside police headquarters no less – is a rather harsh indictment of this campaign against crime. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter, GRP Insider! Opt into a paid subscription and you'll get premium insider briefs and insights from us. Subscribe to our Substack community GRP Insider to receive by email our in-depth free weekly newsletter.
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