Bato insists no crimes against humanity: ‘Hindi naman tayo pababayaan ni Lord’

This picture taken on January 18, 2017, shows police officers investigating a body of an alleged drug user on the ground after an unidentified gunman shot him dead in Manila. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— The Lord bears witness that no crimes against humanity have been committed in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said.

“Basta ako ipikit ko man ang mata ko, i-open ko yung mata ko e wala akong makitang crimes against humanity dito na nangyayari,” Dela Rosa said Monday’s hearing at the Senate on the proposed 2022 budget of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

(Even if I close or open my eyes, I don’t see crimes against humanity being committed here.)

“But anyway, sabihin mo na biased ako…because I’m one of the co-accused with President Duterte, kahit sino sigurong tanungin mong Pilipno kung meron bang crimes against humanity na nangyayari dito sa ating bansa ngayon wala man akong nakikita.

(But you may consider it bias since I am one of the co-accused along with Duterte. You may ask any Filipino if there are crimes against humanity in our country, but I see no such crimes.)

“ Pero cge lang, andyan naman si Lord. Hindi naman tayo pababayaan ni Lord. Alam man Nya ang nangyayari. He’s not blind, nakikita nya yan,” the senator added.

(But let them be, the Lord is here. The Lord will not abandon us. He knows the truth. He’s not blind. He sees what is happening.)

The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently authorized its investigation into the crimes against humanity
cases filed against Duterte and some government officials, including Dela Rosa.

READ: CC pre-trial chamber authorizes start of probe into Duterte’s drug war

When Dela Rosa was police chief, he oversaw a drug war that resulted in thousands of deaths.

READ: PH officials ordered drug war killings – ICC prosecutor

The senator stressed he is a “human rights” advocate too, citing, for instance, his consistent support for the CHR budget, despite their opposing views in the past.

“I’ve been consistent, very consistent since my first year in the Senate. Pangatlong year ko na ito, pangatlong budget year that I’ve never opposed kahit na we’ve been at odds before being the chief PNP (Philippine National Police) pero never been I opposed your budget. I even supported your budget kung pwedeng increase-an, mas maganda dahil like you, I’m also a human rights advocate,” he told CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Gascon.

(I’ve been consistent, very consistent since my first year in the Senate. I’ve never opposed your budget, even though we’ve always been at odds as chief PNP, but this is the third budget I’ve never opposed. Because I also advocate for human rights, I even supported your budget, if possible, to increase it.)

“Pareho lang tayo ng habol, human rights, there’s no quarrel about that, so I’m with you in seeking human rights,” Dela Rosa added.