Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
—Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Someone from the Palace wants to implicate former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies to the proliferation of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country, at least according to Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Former top cop turned lawmaker dela Rosa made the exposè at the Senate panel on women’s 15th hearing on Alice Guo’s Pogo ties.
At the end of Dela Rosa’s accusation was Mary Ann Maslog, who introduced herself to the committee as a certain Jessica Francisco.
“Klaruhin ko na lang sayo. For the record, meron akong impormasyon na you are being used para papirmahin si Alice Guo ng affidavit na magtuturo na si President Duterte, si Sen. Bong Go, si Sen. Bato, at si General Romeo Caramat ay nasa likod ng Pogo,” said dela Rosa.
(For the record, I have information that you are being used in order to for e Alice Guo to sign an affidavit that would implicate former President Duterte, Sen. Go, Sen. Bato, and General Caramat behind Pogos.)
“Merong tao from Malacañang na nag uutos sa iyo. Meron akong information, I can pin you down. Huwag kang pailing iling dyan — alam ko ang impormasyon na yan,” he added.
(There’s someone from Malacañang ordering you. I have information, I can pin you down. Stop shaking your head, I know that information.)
Dela Rosa then proceeded to ask whether this information is true to which Maslog answered no.
At this point, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada butted in, asking what Maslog’s purpose was when she visited Guo in her detention cell when the latter was brought back to the Philippines.
“Galing ako dyan eh, mahirap makapasok dyan at sino ka para makapasok doon? Ang makakapasok lang doon abogado, pari, kamag anak, doktor, o opisyal. Ikaw? Ano relasyon mo sa kanya?” asked Estrada.
(I was once there and I know it’s hard to enter. Who are you to visit Guo? Only a lawyer, doctor, priest, or an official. But you? What’s your relationship with her?)
Maslog opted not to answer. She, however, denied Dela Rosa’s allegation.
Maslog escaped conviction for graft in the 1998 textbook scam case by faking her own death.