World · Singapore Bureau
Ex-Philippine police chief in hiding over bounty on life
Former national police chief Ronald Dela Rosa has been in concealment since May, citing threats to his safety linked to his role in the country's controversial drug war.
LSN Singapore ·
Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who led the Philippine National Police during the height of the nation's war on drugs, has remained in hiding for several months due to security concerns, according to reports on Monday.
The former police chief's decision to go into concealment follows mounting threats against his life, which he has attributed to his enforcement of anti-drug operations that resulted in thousands of deaths during the campaign that began in 2016.
Dela Rosa's concealment underscores the deepening polarization surrounding the drug war's legacy in the Philippines. While supporters credit the operations with disrupting drug trafficking networks, critics and international observers have raised serious concerns about extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
The threats against Dela Rosa reflect broader tensions in Philippine society as various groups seek accountability for actions taken during the drug war campaign. His situation highlights the personal risks faced by officials involved in controversial enforcement operations, as political and social circumstances shift.