Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FILE PHOTO / MALACAÑANG)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was the chief implementer of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war, is supporting the idea to have the erstwhile chief executive lead the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa, who was Duterte’s first appointed Philippine National Police chief, was asked on Wednesday if he thinks Duterte should take on the role of anti-drug czar under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Ako, personally, maganda sana. Babalik iyong takot ng mga drug syndicate, particularly sa mga pulis na involved [sa drugs] – mga ninja cop,” dela Rosa said in an interview with the media at the Senate.
(For me, personally, that would be good. It will instill fear in drug syndicates, particularly police officers involved in drugs or so-called ninja cops.)
Although he said Duterte would be a good fit for the post, the senator noted that this would still depend on the decision of Malacañang – whether or not they are willing to offer the position to the former president.
It would likewise depend on Duterte’s decision should the role be offered to him, dela Rosa added.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, another Duterte-allied lawmaker, was the first to broach the idea of the erstwhile president as the anti-drug czar.
During the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee hearing on Tuesday, Go asked PNP chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. if having the former president fill the role would help the government’s illegal drug campaign.
Duterte’s controversial war on drugs left more than 6,000 drug suspects killed, according to government data.
But if the tally includes victims of vigilante-style killings, human rights groups believe the figure could reach up to 30,000.
Duterte and dela Rosa are both subjects of an investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes against humanity under the former administration’s war on drugs.