Who is Ronald dela Rosa? Dela Rosa is a senator who went to Mindanao State University (MSU) to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration. In 1982, he left MSU to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and graduated in 1986 as part of PMA Sinagtala class.
Nicknamed “Bato”, a moniker borrowed from Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur where he grew up, Police Director General Ronald Marapon de la Rosa is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986. From his humble beginnings in Davao del Sur, he was able to finish high school but almost missed college because of financial difficulties, until he passed a scholarship application at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City.
In 1982, he pursued his dream of becoming a soldier and entered the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated in 1986 and joined the Philippine Constabulary (the forerunner organization of the Philippine National Police) as a young lieutenant. He immediately joined the 11th Regional Special Action Force, his first assignment, after which he joined the Davao City police as a junior officer. He served for many years in the Davao provinces and Compostela Valley where he developed his knowledge and skills in crime fighting and became known as a no-nonsense and tough police officer who got things done.
He is known for leading the Davao City police in successfully implementing Oplan “Tokhang” or “knock and plead,” where policemen knocked on the doors of suspected illegal drug personalities and criminals and asked them to give up and mend their ways. As he said, if they refused to stop, the police will make them stop. Professing a “zero tolerance” approach to rogues in uniform, particularly those involved in the illegal drug trade, he has also vowed to rid the police organization of scalawags.
Faced with the daunting task to eradicate crime, the illegal drug menace and corruption in the country, the 21st Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assumed his post on July 1, 2016 with rock-hard determination to succeed in this mission.