Reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday, April 3, appeared at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ second public hearing on the controversial arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa, whose whereabouts was unknown after Duterte was arrested, was present at the continuation of the Senate panel’s hearing.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, and who became the chief implementor of the Duterte administration’s notorious anti-drug war, scored the absence of the Cabinet members of the Marcos administration, who chose to decline the committee’s invitation by citing executive privilege and the subjudice rule.
“Total snub ang ginawa nila. So dapat para maging healthy ‘yung ating democracy, ay dapat mag respetuhan bawat co-equal branch of government,” Dela Rosa lamented.
“Kung ayaw nilang mag-cooperate sa imbestigasyon, then where will that lead us? Constitutional crisis?,” he argued.
“Wala na. Di na tuloy kami makapag-perform sa aming mga mandato, sa aming trabaho sa Senado, dahil di sila mag-cooperate,” he pointed out.
Also during the interview, Dela Rosa expressed his desire to apply for a Schengen visa so he can visit former president Duterte in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Kung may pagkakataon, before the elections, sana makabisita naman ako sa kanya,” he said.
According to the senator, he is not worried about the possibility of being detained with Duterte, saying he would go there in disguise so that arresting officers would not recognize him.
“Magpunta ako dun sa The Hague, mag-wig ako para hindi nila ako makilala doon,” he said.
In jest, Dela Rosa said, he already has a variety of wigs that he could use.
Dela Rosa said he is considering applying for the visa before or after the May 2025 elections, whether or not he gets reelected as a senator.
Like Duterte, the former top cop is facing charges of crimes against humanity for his role in implementing Duterte’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs. (Hannah Torregoza)
