Sen. Ronald “Bato“ Dela Rosa —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Kabataan Partylist challenged Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to participate in the drug war probe, saying that he is accountable to the Filipino people.
“Stare your victims in the eye during the hearing, Senator. We dare you. If you truly love your country, you would not turn a blind eye to the clamour of thousands of families victimized seeking justice,” said Kabataan Partylist Executive Vice President Renee Co in a statement released Saturday.
READ: Dela Rosa says he is skipping House probe into drug war
Co added that “evidence of your key role in this massacre of youth in the name of the war on drugs is mounting and undeniable—even international authorities have taken notice.”
The International Criminal Court launched a probe into the extrajudicial killings during the administration of Former President Rodrigo Duterte, where Dela Rosa served as the chief of the Philippine National Police.
READ: Bato dela Rosa admits: ‘I am afraid of going to jail’
Dela Rosa has recently denied the allegations of House Deputy Minority Leader Frances Castro that he is avoiding drug war hearings behind inter-parliamentary courtesy or the tradition where upper and lower houses in the Congress do not meddle with each other’s affairs. Castro also pointed out the “inconsistent” stance of the senator on courtesy, recalling how the senator invited Representative Raoul Manuel to attend senate hearings.
READ: Dela Rosa to Castro who said he’s avoiding probe: I don’t answer to a brat
“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,” said Dela Rosa.
Co also told Dela Rosa to “grow up”, citing that “your tantrums against our efforts to ensure justice is top tier brat behavior, disgraceful for a Senator, let alone a self-proclaimed patriot.”
The group also called for answers and accountability on the drug war where a report recorded a total of 6,250 deaths in police operations from June 2016 to May 2022 while human rights groups claimed that the true death toll was over 20,000 from June 2016 to June 2022.