Want to know the real worth of a person? Ask the people he works with. If this is true, then it would be easy to tell that despite his hard stance (no pun intended), Davao City Police Director Senior Superintendent Ronald Dela Rosa is a “fun boss” to be with who had none of the airs that usually infect a person of his stature.
He has become such a celebrity, thanks to his many conquests and accomplishments, that he would be several pesos richer if he charges a fee for every person who wants to have a photo session with him. Despite his seeming confidence when it comes to his work, he becomes shy when people show their admiration for him but beams when they call him “Vin Diesel” and not his namesake, The Rock.
As dela Rosa officially turns over today (October 25) the rein of the DCPO to Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr., chief of the Regional Logistics and Research Development Division in Davao Region, he also leaves behind the many uniformed men and women who have learned to respect him from the time he started his stint as Davao Police Chief in February last year.
After almost two years in office, “Bato” (as he is fondly called by most Dabawenyos) has established a record that will be too difficult to equal. No one will argue that he has somehow grown into the hearts of every Dabawenyo who think of him as their homegrown hero.
Dela Rosa considers the DSWD incident, where he and his men had to stop hungry people from stealing sacks and sacks of rice from the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office, the most dramatic. “There was pressure to stop them but I was desperate kay kabalo ko daghang mangamatay,” he said.
However, the kidnap-for-ransom incident was also the most action-filled since it involved an actual shootout which left several of the kidnappers dead. He considers the incident involving a Malaysian terrorist and his wife one of the most suspenseful considering that he had a very encounter with a ready-to-be-detonated IED or bomb.
Dela Rosa is mighty proud of reducing by almost 60% the circulation of illegal drugs in the city since he took over DCPO, thanks to Oplan Tukhang (Tuktok-Hangyo). “Effective kayo ang personal appeal para sa mga suspected drug pushers—it worked both ways as they knew they were already identified but they are being given a chance to live provided they stop their activities,’ he said.
While Tukhang was highly successful, dela Rosa said there are those who still opted to continue with the illegal drug trade because it is really lucrative. Another successful strategy which he is proud of is Oplan Pakgang (Pitulon ang Kabatan-onan sa Gang) or Disciplining Youths in Gangs.
Ironically, dela Rosa’s most glaring accomplishment is also the source of his frustration. “I would have wanted to accomplish a drugless society where there is zero drug use but he admits this is almost impossible,” he said. For as long barangays like 23-C exists, it will be difficult to completely eradicate the drug trade in the city. This barangay, also known as Mini Forest, is an identified depressed are with mostly transient residents who just drop off drugs and leave.
While dela Rosa’s tour of duty officially ended on October 18 and he is now officially the Chief of Staff of the Intelligence Group in Camp Crame, this promotion is only part of his dream to do a “McArthur” and say “I shall return!” He said he dreams of coming back to the city as its Regional Director.
The 51-year old dela Rosa sees himself retiring five years from now when he turns 56 so that he can come back to his hometown in Bgy. Bato, Davao del Sur where he wants to be elected as mayor. “I still think that after becoming a policeman, the next best way to serve the people is through politics,” he said.
Despite his accomplishments and challenges, he keeps himself grounded by spending time with his family especially on Sundays when they hear mass, watch a movie and eat dinner. Bonding time with his only son means watching and playing basketball. For his two daughters, nothing beats watching movies. He admits to being very strict with his daughters even if one is already working in real estate and another graduating in college.
“Maybe they do not have boyfriends yet because they want someone like me who does not smoke, drink or engage in any vice,” he said.
For someone who grew up wanting to be a policeman because “I always see marines in our barangay and liked their uniforms,” dreams do come true. For someone who took a scholarship in MSU Marawi to go to school because his father’s income as a driver and his mother’s income as a fish vendor were not enough to send him to school, completing a Philippine Military Academy education was a dream come true.
Whether it is a lucky streak or a product of hard work and dedication to his job, life has indeed become a dream come true for dela Rosa. And maybe, fate would somehow make his dream of becoming the mayor of Sta. Cruz come true.
(NB: This article was written way back 2013 when Mr. Ronald dela Rosa was still Chief of the Davao City Police Office. This is not in any way intended to convince people to vote or not to vote for him, but to give them a glimpse of the man)
