Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa holds an M60 machine gun during a gun and ammunition show at a mall in Mandaluyong. Reuters

MANILA - Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa on Monday said he is hurt that some quarters continue to belittle the police's accomplishments as crimes committed by riding-in-tandem gunmen continue to rise.

The PNP chief shared his sentiments during Monday’s press briefing in Camp Crame after Senator Richard Gordon called him "Bato-Gan" ('batugan' or lazy) for failing to solve riding-in-tandem crimes.

"Marami kaming nahuli. Hindi po natutulog ang pulis ninyo. He can call me whatever names he wants to call me. Kasama yan sa sweldo na tinatanggap namin. Yung laitin ka, yung mumurahin ka, yung pagdududahan ka, yung ibu-bull out ka, kasama yan sa sweldo namin," he said.

"So I can take whatever names he wants me to assume. He can call me batugan, ok lang sa akin yun. Pero paki-remind siya na yung batugan, pag nagalit, pwede pa maging bato-machine gun, pag napupuno ang batugan," he added.

Dela Rosa said the Southern Police District has a number of accomplishments including the arrest of several riding-in-tandem suspects. "Hindi pa kasama dito yung those who died in police operations," he said.

The PNP chief said critics do not see their efforts in cleaning the streets and making the environment safe for the communities.

“Well, pag sila magsalita, sila lang talaga ang magaling. Hindi kami magaling. Mahinang klase kami. We are ready to accept that. Normal lang, tao lang tayo, medyo napipikon tayo despite sa wala tayong tulog, despite sa pagsusumikap ng pulis natin na malinis yung kalsada at maibalik yung safety environment sa ating mga mamamayan, normal lang yan dahil you cannot please everyone."

Gordon earlier said the PNP chief should put his words into action by solving the problem of riding-in-tandem crimes and other killings in the country.

He also criticized Dela Rosa for failing to advise President Rodrigo Duterte that reinstating Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 other cops involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. would be detrimental to the police force.