‘Apolitical’ Dela Rosa says VP Duterte’s impeachment expected

Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
—Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines – Despite his closeness with the Dutertes, Sen. Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday vowed to maintain his “political neutrality” in the face of an impending impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on Wednesday with 215 of 306 lawmakers endorsing the verified complaint against her. The 1987 Constitution only requires a one-third vote of the House membership to send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
But for Dela Rosa, Duterte’s impeachment by the House was already expected.
“Expected ko na yun. I’ve been expecting that to happen,” he told reporters in an interview at the Senate, noting the alleged efforts in the House to have her removed from her office.
Dela Rosa also recognized that impeachment is a political exercise.
Article continues after this advertisement“But still as a sitting judge, I have to maintain my political neutrality,” he said, “I should be apolitical by this time once magsuot na ako ng robe (once I wear the robe)… Once suot ko na yan (Once I put that on), I will have to maintain political neutrality.”
Article continues after this advertisement“I’m not denying that I’m close to the Vice President. I’m not denying that I’m identified with the Dutertes. But then again, my decision will be made once I have studied the Articles of Impeachment at saka yung takbo ng trial (the course of the trial). How the prosecution will present their case. Titingnan natin pero apolitical pa rin ako (Let’s see, but I’m still apolitical),” he stressed.
Dela Rosa was police chief of the Vice President’s father, then President Rodrigo Duterte.
Shortly after impeaching the Vice President, the House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
The senator feared this could affect his re-election bid as he would not be able to campaign if he would sit as judge in the impeachment trial.
His only hope is that the people would feel sorry for him and still vote to reelect him.
“Baka maawa yung mga botante: ‘Kawawa naman si Bato o, di makampanya, tulungan na lang natin ito. Nagju- judge si Bato sa impeachment court, di nakaikot,’” Dela Rosa said.
(Maybe the voters will feel sorry for me. Poor Bato, he can’t even campaign, let’s just help him out. Bato is judging in the impeachment court, he can’t go around.)
In the Articles of Impeachment, complainants accused the Vice President of Culpable violation of the Constitution, Betrayal of Public Trust, Graft and Corruption, and other High Crimes.
In particular, it mentioned the Vice President’s alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
READ: House impeaches VP Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
It likewise cited her alleged misuse and malversation of confidential funds allotted to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she concurrently headed.
The complainants also accused her of amassing unexplained wealth and failure to disclose all her properties in her statement of assets, and net worth.