Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa during one of the Senate sessions. File photo from Senate PRIB / Bibo Nueva España
MANILA, Philippines — Some senators have already started buying their own guns in the wake of the spate of killings in the country.
This is according to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who headed the Philippine National Police during the time of then President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Meron nang bumibili ng baril. Yung ayaw ng baril, napilitan na ngayong bumili ng baril,” he said in an interview at the Senate on Wednesday.
(They are now buying guns. Those who are against it are now forced to purchase firearms.)
Dela Rosa said he had already advised his fellow senators to beef up their security after the March 4 killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others inside his house in Barangay Isidro, Pamplona town.
“Sabi ko sa kanila…yung security nyo, i-beef up ninyo then mag-practice kayong bumaril…Mag ensayo kaya para you don’t know when are you going to need that mabuti ng prepared tayo,” he said in an interview at the Senate on Wednesday.
(I told them to beef up their security and practice using guns. I told them to practice because they don’t know when they will need that, so we better be prepared.)
If a governor could be killed inside his house, then Dela Rosa said senators are also not “exempted” from possible attacks.
“So sabi ko sa kanila, ayusin yung security nyo,” the former top cop recalled telling his colleagues.
Dela Rosa also recalled meeting Degamo and wife to raise their concerns over their province’s peace and order situation.
“Ang nilapit sakin noon is yung patayan dun sa Negros,” he said, adding that Degamo also mentioned about a threat to his life related to local politics.
(They raised their concerns about the killings in Negros.)
Dela Rosa refused to elaborate on the threats to Degamo’s life so as not to preempt the inquiry next week by the Senate committee on public order, which he heads.
Senators already adopted last Monday a resolution condemning the killings and attacks of government officials and private individuals in the country.