Dela Rosa criticized for saying there is conspiracy vs. him, ex-Pres. Duterte

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. — MALACAÑANG file photo

MANILA, Philippines —  Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s statement alleging a conspiracy against him and former President Rodrigo Duterte is “baseless and diversionary,” according to House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.

Castro was referring to the August 16 statement of dela Rosa saying he felt that people from the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are working with the “leftists” and “yellows” to pin down Duterte and his allies.

READ: Bato claims Marcos admin working with ‘leftists, yellows’ vs Duterte

For instance, dela Rosa mentioned how the administration allegedly used the Makabayan bloc to call out the Office of the Vice President on the Department of Education’s proposed intelligence funds.

“Senator Dela Rosa is jumping out of his skin every time he is being made to account for his role in the extra-judicial killings during the fake drug war of the Duterte administration,” Castro said in a statement on Sunday.

“First, he played nonchalant on the issue. Second, when he felt the ICC heat is increasing, he begged Marcos Jr. to protect him from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Third, he tried to divert the issue by launching red-tagging hearings, and now he is saying that there is a conspiracy to nail him and former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and his ilk,” she noted.

The lawmaker stressed the need for dela Rosa to “get his facts straight and not just go out screaming conspiracy theories.”

“All we want is transparency, accountability and justice for the transgressions of the past administration,” explained Castro.