By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña on Monday (October 21, 2024) called on Senators Bong Go and Bato Dela Rosa to take an indefinite leave from the Senate amid the upcoming investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
Both Go and Dela Rosa are known allies of Duterte. Dela Rosa also served as the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during his administration.
Cendaña highlighted their alleged involvement in the controversial anti-drug campaign, particularly their roles in the killings and the implementation of the “Davao model,” which reportedly incentivized rogue police officers to carry out extrajudicial killings. According to Cendaña, this creates a serious conflict of interest and undermines the credibility of the Senate investigation.
“Para namang pinagbabantay mo ang asong-gubat sa mga tupa, o pinagbabantay mo ang mga bayawak sa mga manok—gusto nilang maging imbestigador, pero sila mismo ang dapat iniimbestigahan. Senators Go and Dela Rosa can’t be allowed to judge the very bloodstains on their hands,” Cendaña stated.
Akbayan suggested that if Go and Dela Rosa participate in the Senate inquiry, they should do so only as resource speakers.
“This is the only way to ensure a fair and independent inquiry into the brutal anti-drug campaign,” Akbayan added.
Cendaña further argued that Go and Dela Rosa are not mere bystanders in this “deadly chapter” of Philippine history. Given their close association with Duterte and their alleged roles in the campaign, they cannot, in good conscience, participate as if they were neutral observers.
The Senate investigation will revisit the Duterte administration’s anti-drug policy.
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