Go, Dela Rosa to let court decide should cases be filed

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go are leaving it up to the Philippine courts to decide if ever cases are filed against them over drug war deaths.

The two senators aired their stance a few hours after the House of Representatives’ quad committee recommended the filing of charges against them, former president Rodrigo Duterte and others over drug war deaths during the previous administration.

Dela Rosa, who served as the chief implementer of Duterte’s bloody drug war being a former top cop, said these developments prove that the lower chamber wants to demolish the Dutertes and their allies.

READ: Quad comm wants Duterte, others charged for killing Chinese inmates

“That’s what they really want to happen, to implicate us hard—so you know—to demolish us. To demolish us, especially with the upcoming election and when Sen. Bong Go will not win next year because we have been demolished so much now. [If we don’t win] next year, the next Congress will continue to be theirs. There will be no obstruction here in the Senate in their impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. So that’s it. They will continue with it. The world is theirs,” said Dela Rosa in an interview over DZRH.

Asked if he will face the charges, should it push through, fair and square in court, the former top cop answered in the affirmative.

“Yes. I have a lot of faith in our judicial system. Our courts never sleep and God never sleeps. God knows what is really happening here in our country, the Philippines, so I am confident that we will get justice,” he said.

A similar sentiment was aired by Go who maintained, in a statement also issued Wednesday, that it’s vital to let the Filipinos decide if there was “peace and order” during the previous administration.

But like Dela Rosa, Go said he is also leaving it to Philippine courts to decide should cases be filed.

“Since that is the recommendation of the quad comm, then we leave it up to the Philippine courts to decide if ever cases are filed. After all, that’s what former President Rodrigo Duterte said numerous times,” said Go.

Go, however, couldn’t help but question the intent of the lower chamber’s quad committee, noting that it was them who first emphasized the need not to implicate those who are not involved.

“But now, it seems that everything that was mentioned in their hearings, even if it was hearsay or without evidence, they accepted,” said Go.

“I don’t look like a criminal. They said that I am kind. So let the people really judge. As for me, I will continue to help as much as I can and I will prioritize serving my fellow Filipinos,” he added.