Dela Rosa a hard act to follow

Even fellow police officers are in agreement that the shoes that will be left behind by Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Chief Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa are too big to fill.

Dela Rosa officially handed the baton over to Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr., chief of the Regional Logistics and Research Development Division in Davao Region yesterday. The former DCPO chief was directed as early as last week to report to the Camp Crame where he takes on the position of Chief of Staff of the Intelligence Group. However, he had to come back to the city for the official turn over ceremony Friday as this is the only time when Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is available this week.

“Mahirap mapantayan ang nasimulan ni dela Rosa (it is hard to live up to what dela Rosa has started) but I believe and I have faith in Sr. Supt. Danao that he will be up for the job,” PNP XI Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Wency T. Pascual said.

Dela Rosa was appointed DCPO Chief in February 2011 and was asked by Duterte to again extend his stay. However, dela Rosa said he is not getting younger and wants to accomplish more things before he comes back to Davao PNP hopefully as its Regional Director.

“My biggest accomplishment would be the reduction of drug activities in the city,” dela Rosaid. However, he is also frustrated that he was not able to accomplish a drug-free Davao before leaving the city. “Maybe I am too ambitous,” he added.

Dela Rosa challenged Danao to continue implementing “Oplan Tokhang” or Operation Tuktok where he personally visits the home of suspected drug dealers and convince them to stop their illegal activities. Otherwise, he said, “mugara na pud ni sila ug mubalik ang droga diri.”

His advice to Danao: “love your people, subordinates, your community and your work and everything will fall into place.”