‘Bato’ as Dangerous Drugs Committee head a ‘hard sell’ – Hontiveros 

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday thinks that the investigation on abuses associated with the war on drugs would be a “tough sell” if Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa ends up heading the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

“Well by common wisdom, it would be a tough sell,” the opposition senator said when interviewed on ANC’s  Early Edition.

“But still, in his new role as a senator of the Republic, aasahan ko pa rin sana na yung mistah ko, mistah ng late husband ko sa PMA (Philippine Military Academy), my old friend before, would be up to the task, first of all, of continuing the security sector reforms, hindi lang sa AFP pero sa PNP in particular kasi kailangan talaga natin ng isang reform, moderno, professional police force in order to govern properly,” Hontiveros added.

Dela Rosa, before being elected senator, was appointed Philippine National Police chief and spearheaded the Duterte administration’s relentless war on drugs.

Dela Rosa was a PMA batchmate of Hontiveros’ late husband, Francisco Baraquel Jr.

“I would  tell him pagpasok niya bilang senador, as a I have been consistently addressing the President for the past three years,  na yung larangan ng Philippine National Police, institutionally [ay] ibang-iba larangan pa rin ang Senado bilang institution din,” added Hontiveros.

“And the challenge will be to him as a senator-elect as the supposed incoming chair of that important committee na harapin yung mga issue na ihaharap, hindi lamang mula [sa] minority, pati sa mga mamamayan who are still suffering from extrajudicial killings,” she added.  (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)