Inhibit from EJK probe? Bato says: ‘Ako ba ang pumatay?’

MANILA,  Philippines—As new chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he is ready to investigate any allegations of extrajudicial killings in the country.

At this point, however, the former Philippine National Police chief saw no reason why he should inhibit from such investigation.

“Bakit ako mag-iinhibit, ako ba ang pumatay? Hindi man ako ang pumatay,” he said in an interview at the Senate after attending a briefing for incoming senators and staff.

(Why should I inhibit, am I the one who killed them? I did not do the killing?)

Dela Rosa stressed that he just wanted the truth to come out.

“Do you think na kung hindi ako mag-i-inhibit, hindi lalabas ang katotohanan?” he asked reporters, “If you think na hindi lalabas, so mag inhibit ako.”

(Do you think if I do not inhibit [from the investigation] the truth will not come out? If you think it’s not, then I will inhibit.)

Asked if he would not be biased with the investigation, Dela Rosa said: “Ah hindi, iba na ako ngayon. Senador na, senador na ako. Hindi na ako pulis.”

(No, I’m [performing a different task] now. I’m now a senator; no longer a policeman.)

The former police chief will officially assume his post in the Senate on June 30.

But even before his assumption in office, Senator Panfilo Lacson has decided to give up his chairmanship of the public order panel for Dela Rosa. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

READ: Go eyes health panel; ‘Bato’ to likely get public order committee