Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa answers questions from the members of the media during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado forum in Pasay City on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (File photo from INQUIRER.net/NOY MORCOSO)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday rebutted accusations that he is hiding behind inter-parliamentary courtesy to avoid a House inquiry on extrajudicial killings.
Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police chief when the bloody war on drugs, dubbed “tokhang,” started during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
The accusation came after House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro issued a statement alleging that dela Rosa was evading the hearing through inter-parliamentary courtesy.
Inter-parliamentary courtesy is a tradition in Congress where both the upper and lower houses do not meddle in each other’s affairs.
READ: Senator’s fear of ‘tokhang’ probe slammed
The senator explained that he declined to attend the House hearing due to Senate President Francis Escudero’s advice that he was not required to do so.
Castro pointed out his “inconsistent” stance on the courtesy principle, recalling that dela Rosa had previously invited Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel to attend Senate hearings.
The senator denied this.
“I do not remember Rep. Manuel attending any of the hearings of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to shed light on the allegations made by former rebels that Rep. Manuel himself recruited those missing minors, who eventually joined the communist terrorists’ armed struggle,” dela Rosa said.
“Why am I being demonized yet again by the same people who have been against the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the past administration?” he asked.
“I have already answered past inquiries in Congress,” he maintained.
Dela Rosa then urged those who found any irregularities in his performance to file cases in court.
READ: War on drugs: The violence, scars, doubts and families it left behind
“They had all the time and power to put up a case against me, but they failed to do so. Perhaps they themselves had a hard time to justify their claims,” he added.
The senator also emphasized that he is responding only to the calls of the Filipino people.
“Anyway, let them say what they want against me. After all, it is our people to whom I am accountable and answerable, not to a brat,” he said.
“Especially not to one who has not even stared death in the eye if only to defend our country, and yet acts as though he/she is the most patriotic of them all,” dela Rosa added.