Bato dela Rosa urged to explain role in Duterte ‘drug war’ before ICC

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. – At least two lawmakers are urging dela Rosa to explain before the International Criminal Court (ICC) his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s “drug war.” Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa should explain before the International Criminal Court (ICC) his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s “drug war,” according to at least two lawmakers of the House of Representatives.

House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and House Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon said dela Rosa must “face the music” and clarify his alleged involvement in the brutal war on drugs under the previous administration, in which the senator served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

“Sana harapin na lang ni Sen. Bato ang asunto niya sa ICC, para makaharap niya na din at madinig ang malulungkot na kwento ng mga naulila ng mga napatay noong drug war. (I hope Sen. Bato would just face his case at the ICC, so he can also confront and hear the heartbreaking stories of the families left behind by those killed during the drug war),” Acidre said in a joint statement with Bongalon released Saturday.

READ: Dela Rosa, 4 others now suspects in ICC ‘drug war’ case – Trillanes

“He keeps distancing himself from the thousands of deaths during the war on drugs, but he was the PNP Chief during that time.”

“He cannot deny that he played a central role in the implementation of the bloody drug war,” he added.

Bongalon, for his part, expressed wonder why dela Rosa “continues to evade responsibility” despite his position as police chief when the brutal anti-drug campaign was implemented.

“Sen. Bato cannot just brush aside the ICC’s investigation. He was at the helm of the police force when the most egregious human rights abuses were committed. It is his duty to explain what happened,” Bongalon said.

The lawmaker noted that the House quad committee hearings revealed that “police forces were given orders to shoot on sight.”

He then raised the question: “How can Sen. Dela Rosa deny his involvement when the bloodiest parts of the war on drugs were carried out under his command?”

READ: Lawyer cites need to fast-track ICC warrant vs Duterte

Acidre and Bongalon criticized dela Rosa “silence” on the matter, especially amid overwhelming discoveries of the House quad panel probing into the Duterte administration’s drug war.

“His silence here in Congress is disconcerting. But he cannot stay silent forever. Justice demands answers, and if he won’t give them here, the ICC will ask for them,” Acidre pointed out.

Last August, the top cop-turned-senator expressed hope that the Senate would “not bow down its head” to the Palace should it allow the entry of ICC investigators to the country and grant the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.

He called on the upper house to stand as a separate and independent entity, and to protect its status as a co-equal branch of government with other branches of government.