By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision to grant former senator Leila De Lima the opportunity to post bail after six years of detention.

“Masaya ako para sa kanya dahil one soul that is freed from detention, masaya ako para sa aking kapwa tao,” Dela Rosa said.

“As I have said, I respect the court’s decision as I always also observe separation of powers. Respetuhin natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte,” the senator said.

When the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte filed drug cases against De Lima, Dela Rosa was the head of the national police.

The lady senator was one of the most vocal critics of Duterte and his anti-drug campaign that started right after his ascension to power in 2016.

Dela Rosa mentioned that he already expected that the case would weaken after the administration of Duterte.

“I cannot really say with certainty na mahina ang kaso because it withstood the time of President Duterte’s term and after his term, ito na ngayon… dahan-dahang nadi-dismiss so hindi ko masabi. Does it mean na malakas siya noon tapos ngayon humina na? Hindi naman siguro because the facts are the same, the circumstances are still the same,” Dela Rosa said.

“Expected ko na yan at naging trend naman talaga yan dito sa Pilipinas… kapag yung administrasyon nag-file ng kaso, ‘pag napalitan yung administrasyon, tila humihina yung kaso, parang ganon ang napapansin ko,” he continued.

(ai/mnm)