Dela Rosa wants PNP to expand protection of women and children

October 23, 2017

Philippine National Police ( PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa admitted the agency did not give enough attention to country's problem involving women and children because of their focus on administration's war on illegal drugs.

In a press conference Monday, Dela Rosa said he was always asked by his foreign counterparts his action against human trafficking, especially sexual exploitation of children.

"Everytime there is an international gatherings like ASEANAPOL, the European countries and Australia, I want to share issues in respective police forces like drugs and terrorism but they only asked me about the problem in child exploitation and trafficking in person," Dela Rosa said.

"So, we have neglected this because we were not able to give enough attention but not knowing the situation has worsened that a lot of teenagers became victims," he said.

Dela Rosa said he wants the Women and Children Protection Center to be raised to a department so it can focus on the spread of child exploitation in the country.

"I would like to elevate it to a status of a group for it to become a national operational support unit. It will become WCPG (Women and Children Protection Group) to give them enough funds and be equipped and spread all the country," he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS