Dela Rosa says he is skipping House probe into drug war

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa —Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Former top cop and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he is skipping the House of Representatives probe into ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war.

But dela Rosa maintained that his decision only came after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero gave him advice.

He said he has yet to receive a formal invite from the lower chamber.

READ: Duterte, dela Rosa invited to House hearing on drug war deaths

“I sought the advice of the Senate President on what to do. I don’t have any problems, I can face them anytime. But still, I have to follow the guidance of the Senate President, being a member of the institution, the Senate of the Philippines. I need to follow his guidance,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview, as quoted in a statement issued Tuesday evening.

READ: Bato dela Rosa admits: ‘I am afraid of going to jail’

“His answer was, ‘No, you don’t have to attend’ because there are discussions in the Senate that every time a senator’s name pops up in their hearing, we will break up the so-called inter-parliamentary courtesy. What can senators do? There are only twenty-four of us, if we just attend their hearing, we can’t do anything in our legislative function,” the former national police chief added.

Apart from repeatedly clarifying the reason why he is skipping the probe, dela Rosa likewise argued that those calling on his and Duterte’s accountability for their roles in the brutal drug war should instead file cases against them in the proper forum.

“We are ready to face any court here in the Philippines. It’s not about sentiment, it’s about evidence. We will base it on evidence, not sentiment. If you have evidence, [file] a case in court,” he said.

Dela Rosa, being the chief implementer of Duterte’s bloody drug war, is among those mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint before the International Criminal Court.