I will sink or swim with Duterte – Bato

MANILA, Philippines —  With more investigations on the previous administration’s deadly campaign against illegal drugs on the horizon, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has professed his undying loyalty to his former boss, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“My loyalty to that person will go forever and ever. I will sink or swim with president Duterte,” Dela Rosa said in a mix of English and Filipino during an interview with “Storycon” on One News yesterday.

Despite this loyalty to the former president – and an apparent conflict of interest – the senator believes he would be able to lead a Senate investigation on the drug war, which he implemented as Duterte’s first chief of police.

“I have a function that I have to do as chairman of Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, so I know where I stand,” he added.

Dela Rosa, however, said he is open to proposals for an investigation to be conducted by the Senate possibly convened as a committee of the whole.

“I have no problem with that. I’m OK with that. If they will question my motu proprio investigation on the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) leaks that was suspended, we can talk about it,” he added.

Dela Rosa was referring to his committee’s previous investigation on supposed leaked documents that linked several high-profile personalities, including President Marcos, to illegal drugs.

According to the senator, if his committee’s inquiry into the drug war pushes through, it will be a continuation of the PDEA leaks probe and will not start from scratch.

Dela Rosa said he was initially hesitant to conduct a probe on the drug war, but realized there was a need for “checks and balances” given the ongoing quad committee investigations at the House of Representatives.

Several witnesses, including retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chief Royina Garma, bared details of a supposed reward system implemented during the drug war.

“I see that the lies being told at the Lower House are getting out of hand. Somehow, we want to see at the Senate if they will be consistent in what they will say,” he said in Filipino, referring to witness testimonies.

He earlier said that Duterte may be more comfortable attending an investigation at the Senate than at the House of Representatives.

For former Senate president Franklin Drilon, the plan of Dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go to lead the investigations will put Senate’s credibility on the line.

Like Dela Rosa, Go also has close ties with Duterte. He served as special assistant to the president until 2019, when he was elected senator.

“The credibility of the Senate as an institution is at stake… The public will not believe that it will be in aid of legislation because they were mentioned in the House hearings,” Drilon said also on “Storycon.”

He said an investigation by the committee of the whole is a better option. But it can only be convened once the Senate resumes session on Nov. 4, he pointed out.