Dela Rosa: Di ko kinukunsinti 'yung ginawa ng mga pulis, ni-relieve na nga sila para ma-imbestigahan pic.twitter.com/dPuks7I4o6 — Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) May 1, 2017

(UPDATED) Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday said that the so-called "secret jail cell" discovered by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) at the Manila Police Sation 1 is illegal but cops only built it to decongest their regular cells and utilize available space.

Dela Rosa told reporters in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo that he understands why the cops did it.

"Para sa akin, kawawa naman yung mga pulis ko. Gumagawa na lang ng diskarte para ma-maximize yung space, masikip na masyado doon, hinanapan ng lugar, sus, sila pa may kasalanan. Legally, may pananagutan sila kasi hindi 'yun talaga authorized but ano ngayon? Isaksak nila ipilit doon hanggang mamatay sa suffocation yung mga nasa presuhan?" he said.

He added that the suspects locked inside the cell told him that they lied to the CHR.

"Sabi nung isa, nagsinungaling kami sir para akala namin mailabas kami ng CHR sa kulungan after the inspection, sinabi namin yun kasi akala namin matulungan kami mailabas sa kulungan. Paano sila mailabas na may kaso man sila na kinakaharap? Paano sila mailabas? So nagbago yung kanilang pananalita 'nung tinanong ko," he said.

Dela Rosa also said that the suspects told him that they were not abused and that the cops were not extorting them.

Dela Rosa denied allegations that he was condoning what his men did in the police station.

"Hindi ko sila kunukunsinti. Sinasabi ko lang na walang ginawa na masama dahil di nangotong, di nananakit, at di lumagpas reglementary period 'yung kanilang pagkakakulong so anong masama doon? Di ko kinukunsinti. In fact, ne-relieve na yung mga tao doon para ma-imbestigahan. Ongoing yung kanilang investigation. Kung ma-find out ngayon na talagang viniolate nila yung batas tungkol sa pagkulong ng prineso, outside, aside doon sa recognized na presuhan then pananagutan nila yan dahil mali yung ginawa nila. Kahit ang depensa nila na, 'sir ginawa lang namin yan, diskarte namin yan dahil masikip na talaga, wala nang lugar' then you have to defend yourself. I-defend nyo sa korte yan kung kasuhan kayo," Dela Rosa said.

PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa reacts to Sen. Ping Lacson's statement on MPD 'secret' cell pic.twitter.com/q8FIp5yE1a — Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) May 1, 2017

He said he respects Sen. Panfilo Lacson but brushed aside the lawmaker's statements on the "secret jail cell".

"I respect him, he is my idol pero kung sabihin niya na arrogant iyung pag-depensa ko sa mga tao ko na hindi nangongotong, hindi nang-aabuso, pasensiya na, iba yung standard niya ng arrogance. Pag depensa lang, ginagawa lang ng tama. Ang hindi tama doon, iproprove natin na hindi tama. I respect him very much, he is my idol. I don't know paano ko ireconcile 'yung arrogance na iyon," he said.

Lacson on Monday said the existence of the secret jail cell in the Tondo police station is "too plain view" to ignore.

"Defending its existence is a virtual defense of the indefensible," he said.

"Defending an unlivable prison cell hidden behind a book shelf inside a police station is incomprehensible. It is also very arrogant," he said in a separate tweet.

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, said that he is okay with being called a "kanto boy".

Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon has also criticized Dela Rosa after hearing his statements on the hidden jail cell.

"Parang kanto boy, parang hindi chief PNP," Drilon said.

Dela Rosa said that no one should look down on "kanto boys".

"They can call me a kanto boy, sabi nila kanto boy daw ang aking sagot sa tanong na iyon. Kanto boy, it's okay with me. They can call me kanto boy. Totoo man talaga, naging kanto boy ako noon. Hindi lang ako nakapasok ng PMA, baka kanto boy ako hanggang ngayon. Okay lang, Call me kanto boy. But remember… hindi lahat ng kanto boy masasama. At hindi lahat ng mayayaman, learned, educated na mga tao, mabubuti. Wag mong ismolin ang isang taong kanto boy dahil hindi lahat ng kanto boy, masama. For all you know mamaya magkakaroon kayo ng vehicular accident diyan, 'yung kanto boy pa makakasave ng buhay ninyo. 'Wag niyong ismolin ang kanto boy," Dela Rosa said.