By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa expressed his readiness to present the truth before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in its investigation into the war on drugs.

“I don’t need to prepare. Andiyan naman ‘yung truth. Hindi naman ‘yan mapapalitan. I know the truth kaya hindi nila ako pwedeng gawan-gawan ng istorya na kung anu-anong alegasyon ang sinasabi nila. Kailangan malaman natin ang katotohanan,” Dela Rosa said.

He emphasized, “No holds barred.”

In facing his critics, Dela Rosa vowed to be direct and transparent to clarify the allegations made against him as a chief implementer of the war on drugs during his time as Philippine National Police chief.

“I will not be extra careful as far as the truth is concerned. I don’t care kung sinong masasaktan sa aking pananalita basta ang habol ko lang dito is katotohanan, lalabas ang katotohanan,” the senator stated.

“I don’t care kung anong sabihin nila. Hindi ako ang taong pa-cute-cute, hindi ako ang taong magpa-disente kasi nga umiiwas ng bashing or what. Basta sa akin, lalabas ang katotohanan. Prangkahan tayo. Lalabas ang katotohanan. I would be frank and candid to everyone. Kilala niyo ako. That’s how I am doing this,” he added.

The investigation will be led by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel.

ia/mnm

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday (22 Oct 2024) said that he will not go for an indefinite leave during the Senate probe on war on drugs.

Dela Rosa made the statement after Akbayan Party-list urged him and Sen. Bong Go to take an indefinite leave while the chamber conducts its investigation on the bloody war on drugs of the previous administration.

Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, said he will attend the investigation to ferret out the truth about the war on drugs.

“No! I have to confront the liars because the public deserves to know the truth,” Dela Rosa said, reacting to the call of Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña.

Dela Rosa has earlier expressed support to the Senate investigation into the war against drugs to refute all the lies that have been raised against him, Duterte and their allies.

“ASAP sana ma-address ‘yan, makapag-hearing na kaagad. Basta ang sa akin, what is important is ito’y lumabas na…inunahan nila sa House, so the public deserves to know the truth. Kasi mahirap na ‘yung puro kasinungalingan ‘yung mamayagpag,” the lawmaker stressed.

Dela Rosa earlier said that he welcomes any Senate investigation into the matter, regardless who the presiding officer is.

“Walang problema kahit hindi ako ang mangunguna. Ang importante ang Senado ay magkaroon ng parallel investigation at actively magpa-participate din naman ako kahit na hindi ako ang magpe-preside,” Dela Rosa said.

ia/mnm

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Bato Dela Rosa said on Wednesday (17 July 2024) that it’s Vice President Sara Duterte’s decision not to attend the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

This was Dela Rosa’s response when asked how it will be called UniTeam if the Vice President does not attend the SONA.

“Well, it’s her call. If she doesn’t want to attend, there’s really no compulsion. It’s up to her,” he said.

Earlier, Duterte stated that she will not attend the SONA and appointed herself as a “designated survivor.”

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said that he has no information on whether former President Rodrigo Duterte will attend the SONA.

“I don’t know [whether he will attend or not],” the senator said.

Marcos’ third SONA will be held on July 22.

(el Amigo/mnm)

Photo from PTV

By Junex Doronio

SAYING THAT HIS FATHER FIGURE PREFERS ACTION THAN to debates, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has revealed that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is not really “too interested” in running for senator in the upcoming midterm elections in 2025.

This developed after news broke out that FRRD’s son Davao City’s 1st district Representative Paulo “Pulong” Zimmerman Duterte has been consistently included in the Magic 12 list of senatorial candidates, ranking 9 to 12, in recent surveys.

Octa Research fellow Guido David earlier said that Pulong could be a viable candidate in the next Senate elections.

Acknowledging the former president’s advanced age, Dela Rosa said that he wanted Duterte to take a rest from government service.

“On the personal note, pagpahingahin na natin. Kawawa naman ang tao. Matanda na, pagpahingahin na natin, para mag-enjoy siya sa buhay niya,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with Radyo 630 on Sunday, November 5.

To recall, Duterte once served as a representative of Davao City’s 1st district, from June 30, 1998, to June 30, 2001.

Nothing significant can be heard of Duterte’s performance as a congressman during his three-year term.

“Mukhang hindi naman sarado, pero kulang lang talaga siya ng interes as of now,” Dela Rosa admitted.

He added: “Galing na siya Presidente. Napagod na siya, at ngayon hanap ka na naman trabaho. Si PRRD ayaw niya ng buhay legislator. Ayaw niya puro debate. Gusto nya aksyon.”

(ai/mnm)