Dela Rosa slams Marcos remarks on drug war, Pogos, China
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Thursday denounced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s remarks seemingly against senatorial aspirants aligned with former President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Marcos on admin slate: They’re not tainted by tokhang, Pogo, pro-China
Marcos proudly said that his slate is not tainted by the drug war dubbed as Oplan Tokhang and corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said none of the senatorial candidates he is supporting are pro-China and pro-Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), which he outlawed.
Marcos made such remarks during the proclamation rally of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in Ilocos Norte on Tuesday.
Dela Rosa, who was the chief implementer of Duterte’s drug war being a former top cop, denounced Marcos’ remarks.
“Uncalled for, unexpected for a president. We do not expect it, but okay, we accept that this is a political season so we expect political bashing,” Dela Rosa said in a mix of English and Filipino in an ambush interview.
According to dela Rosa, it’s okay for his hands to be tainted with blood as long as it’s the blood of bad people.
“Cast this in stone: I don’t care if my hands are tainted with blood if we need to protect the lives of good people,” he said in Filipino.
“About the Oplan Tokhang, you know it is okay with me if you will brand me as someone whose hands are tainted with blood if that is the blood of bad people, and my hands got tainted because I protected the loves of good people,” he added.
