Dela Rosa’s refusal to attend drug war probe ‘a cowardly act’ – Castro

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa cites in contempt Eric Santiago, a former National Police Commission (Napolcom) employee, for allegedly telling a lie before the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing. Dela Rosa presided on Monday, May 20, 2024, the fourth committee hearing in a bid to ferret out the truth on the alleged Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) leaked documents. Dela Rosa said the Filipinos deserve the truth because the challenge of serving the government is not to abuse the entrusted power, and not to fall short on the expected services for the people. “Since we first heard about the PDEA leaks, your committee has tried to stay focused on its goal, that is to find out why there are allegedly confidential documents that were smuggled from the PDEA’s case file folders and how to prevent it from happening again by drafting laws. No more, no less,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino. “Thank you very much and let’s pray that in our hearing today, the excessive division in the opinion of our countrymen will be reduced and the deficiencies in the policy will be filled,” he added. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s decision to skip the House of Representatives probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war is “a cowardly act” and “an attempt to evade accountability,” a lawmaker said on Sunday.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said this after Dela Rosa, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the Duterte administration, said he would only face the allegations against him and the former chief executive in the proper forum.

READ: Dela Rosa says he is skipping House probe into drug war

“Senator Dela Rosa should not hide behind inter-parliamentary courtesy as an excuse. The truth is, he is afraid to face the victims of the bloody drug war that he and former President Duterte orchestrated,” Castro said in a statement.

She also pointed out Dela Rosa’s “inconsistent stance” as he invited Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel to a Senate hearing.

“Why the double standard now?” she asked.

In response to Dela Rosa’s statement that the “justice system is working because some police officers have been convicted,” Castro said the “convictions are too few and far between.”

“As one of the architects of this bloody war on drugs, he himself should face investigation and be held accountable,” she said.

“Senator Dela Rosa’s refusal to participate only reinforces the suspicion that he has something to hide,” she added.

Castro urged Dela Rosa to reconsider his decision.

“If he truly believes in the righteousness of their actions, he should have no fear in facing this inquiry. The victims and their families deserve nothing less than the truth and justice,” she added.

READ: Dela Rosa says he’ll attend House hearing on drug war if Duterte attends

In a radio interview, the former PNP chief said he decided to skip the House probe after he “sought the advice” of Senate President Francis Escudero.

“I don’t have any problems; I can face them anytime. But still, I have to follow the guidance of the Senate President,” Dela Rosa said.

In a separate interview on ANC’s Headstart, the senator said the “only one thing that can maybe force [him] to attend the hearing” is if Duterte attends it.

He also said his willingness to attend the probe alongside Duterte was “born out of love.”