"Patayan sa drugs. Patayan talaga ito sa drugs. Kayong mga drug lords diyan, humanda na kayo at talagang sasagasaan ko kayo," Dela Rosa said in a report by Oscar Oida on "24 Oras" on Wednesday.
He gave the same warning to policemen involved in the illegal drug trade.
"Lahat ng pulis na involved sa drugs, lumayas kayo, 'wag na kayong mag-pulis dahil binabayaran kayo ng gobyerno para manghuli ng mga drug personalities, ngayon tumatanggap rin kayo sa mga drug lords. Ano kayo, sinesuwerte?" said Dela Rosa, former police provincial director of Davao.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of '86, Dela Rosa also defended incoming president Rodrigo Duterte's propensity to issue shoot-to-kill orders on criminals, saying it is justifiable if the policeman's life is in danger.
"Ang basis naman dun is 'pag lumaban, at na-endanger ang buhay mo, kailangan patayin mo siya (suspect) dahil self-defense. Ano gusto mo, ikaw mamatay?" he said.
He also said he will try his best to help carry out Duterte's plan to eradicate crime within three to six months of his administration.
"Papa-chief PNP ka tapos hindi mo kakayanin? Eh dapat kayanin mo. After three to six months, kung hindi kaya, 'di surrender," Dela Rosa added.
Admitting that there are senior police officers who would be bypassed by his appointment, Dela Rosa appealed for cooperation.
"I just hoped na susunod sila sa akin. Nagkakataon na ako ang pinili ni presidente, 'di sumunod sila sa akin. At hindi po mahirap pasunurin 'yang mga upperclassmen ko dahil alam naman nila 'yan, tanggap naman nila 'yan," he said.
"Huwag lang silang paharang-harang yung aking gustong gawin na within three to six months. Otherwise, mag-aaway kami," Dela Rosa added.
During the campaign season for the May 9 elections, Dela Rosa was sacked as brigade commander of the PNP Reactionary Standby Support Force for openly supporting Duterte's presidential bid and for threatening to "crush" those who will commit poll fraud.
source: GMA News