Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa believes many of his colleagues are staying quiet on the issues raised against Vice President Sara Duterte for fear of losing their connection with Malacañang.
Dela Rosa shared this observation on Tuesday when asked in a television interview about the impeachment complaint filed in the House of Representatives against Duterte.
“They can do it. Nobody’s stopping them,” he initially said over ANC’s “Headstart.”
“If they want to do it, then go ahead, They can do it. Wala pong problema (There’s no problem). That’s the Constitutional process no? Then let the process go,” the senator went on.
The complaint, initiated by 16 individuals from various civil society and advocacy groups as well as relatives of the drug war victims, was lodged at the House on Monday.
Asked about the sentiments of his colleagues on this impeachment bid against Duterte, Dela Rosa proceeded to talk about his personal observation.
“Karamihan dyan tahimik lang e. Ayaw lang ma-bad shot sa Malacañang. Ayaw lang nilang mawalan ng koneksyon sa Malacañang kaya tahimik lang yan. Pero deep inside, I can read their hearts. Tahimik lang yan pero I don’t have to name names,” he said.
(Most of them are just quiet. They just don’t want to lose their connection with Malacañang, so they stay silent. But deep inside, I can read their hearts. They’re quiet, but I don’t have to name names.)
“I know where their heart and mind lie but they just keep silent. Ayaw nilang ma-bad shot sa Malacañang,” added Dela Rosa, a known ally of the Vice President.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, in a statement earlier on Tuesday, called on senators to refrain from commenting on the issue as the chamber might be called to act as an impeachment court if the Vice President is impeached in the House.
However, Dela Rosa continued to defend the VP when the issue of her confidential funds was asked during the interview.
Her alleged failure to account for the P612.5 million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during her time was included in the 24 articles of impeachment against her.
“To start with alam na naman natin na sini-single out nila yung Office of the Vice President. For what? Alam natin what’s the motive behind,” Dela Rosa said.
(To start with, we know that they are singling out the Office of the Vice President. For what? We know what’s the motive behind.)
“Kung gusto nilang talagang, seryoso sila na maibestigahan yung confidential funds na yan, they should start with the Office of the President, Vice President, lahat ng mga opisina, lahat ng ahensya that are receiving confidential funds.”
(If they are truly serious about investigating those confidential funds, they should start with the Office of the President, the Vice President, all the offices, and all the agencies that are receiving confidential funds.)
Besides, the senator said confidential funds should not be given to agencies if they would not be treated confidential anyway.
“Dapat walain na natin ito kung yan ang pinaka issue nila na ginagamit. Tanggalin na natin dapat yan,” Dela Rosa said.
“We should just remove this if that’s the main issue they are using. We should get rid of it.)