US-PH relations still strong, says Bato

PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa formally accepts P40-million worth of security equipment the US government donated to the PNP. Photo by Julliane Love de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

The ties between the United States and the Philippines remain strong, at least for the top cop of the Philippine National Police.

The US government donating P42-million worth of security equipment to the Philippine police to bolster its anti-terrorism efforts just proves that the partnership of the two countries remains solid amid the exchange of controversial remarks between President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Barack Obama, the PNP chief said Wednesday.

But PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, in a speech at Camp Crame, admitted in jest that he was afraid the US Embassy’s Diplomatic Security Bureau might take back its donation to the police force.

“I was afraid this morning when I heard the news that since President Obama cancelled the meeting with President Duterte, you may also cancel the turnover of equipment. Now don’t take them back because you’ve turned over these to us,” a laughing Dela Rosa said before US Embassy and PNP officials during the turnover ceremony.

READ: Obama scraps meeting with Duterte — White House

Obama decided to call off his meeting with Duterte after the latter launched a profanity-laden tirade against the US president for attempting to discuss with him extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

The US Embassy donated bomb disposal equipment, computers, mobile devices and other security equipment worth $900,000 USD to the PNP, particularly to the Special Action Force, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Anti-Cybercrime Group and Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen region).

After the brief ceremony, Dela Rosa said the relationship between US and Philippines will remain good despite a “tampuhan (misunderstanding)” among the leaders of the two countries.

“Hindi naman siguro naapektuhan ang relationship natin sa US government. Konting tampuhan lang siguro ‘yon kaya hindi natuloy ang meeting,” he told reporters in an ambush interview.

(Hopefully our relationship with the US government isn’t affected. It’s only a little misunderstanding.)

“Otherwise, kung nasira, cancel nila ang pag-turn over nitong mga gamit na ito. Good, good pa rin tayo,” the police chief added.

(Otherwise, if [ties] are broken, the turnover of these equipment should have been canceled. We’re all good.) TVJ

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