By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Two members of the House of Representatives’ so-called “Young Guns” on Saturday (21 Sept 2024) criticized Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for accusing the lower chamber of playing politics, urging him to “face the music” and explain his alleged involvement as national police chief during the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war, which left thousands of Filipinos dead.
Instead of pointing fingers at the House leadership, House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and House Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon both called on Dela Rosa to come forward and address his role in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that occurred during the Duterte “war on drugs.”
“Sana harapin na lang ni Sen. Bato ang asunto niya sa ICC para makaharap niya rin at madinig ang malulungkot na kwento ng mga naulila ng mga napatay noong drug war. He keeps distancing himself from the thousands of deaths during the war on drugs, but he was the PNP Chief at the time,” Acidre said.
The Tingog party-list lawmaker noted that Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied responsibility for the violence that marked the drug campaign.
“He cannot deny that he played a central role in the bloody drug war’s implementation,” Acidre added.
Bongalon of the Ako Bicol party-list also questioned Dela Rosa’s continued evasion of accountability, despite his leadership as PNP Chief during the most violent phase of the anti-drug operations.
“Sen. Bato cannot just brush aside the ICC investigation. He led the police force when the most egregious human rights abuses were committed. He must explain what happened,” Bongalon stressed.
The ICC has been investigating the Duterte administration’s drug war, with international prosecutors focusing on allegations of state-sanctioned killings.
Both Acidre and Bongalon believe it is time for Dela Rosa to face the charges.
ia/mnm
