Bato: Ex-Pres Duterte saddened by reported drug problem resurgence but won't interfere

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was saddened by reports on the apparent resurgence of the drug problem in the country but he does not want to interfere with the current administration's efforts, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Tuesday.

The Philippine National Police chief-turned-lawmaker made the remark a day after he delivered a privilege speech, claiming that the drug syndicates are coming back with a vengeance.

In his privilege speech, Dela Rosa mentioned the arrests of PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officers in the recent buy-bust operations.

"'Yung privilege speech ko ay kasama na rin 'yun sa napag-usapan namin na talagang nalungkot siya na meron na namang ganung pangyayari but he doesn't want to interfere with how this government is running its own show. Ayaw niya," Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters.

Asked if Duterte was frustrated with the status of the drug problem in the country, Dela Rosa said: "He was just expressing his concern. Concerned lang siya na balik na naman 'yung mga ninja cops, 'yung mga narco'politicians at kawawa yung mga bata."

Dela Rosa was then-President Duterte's first PNP chief. He was at the forefront of the administration's war on drugs.

As chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Dela Rosa said he is relaying Duterte's concern that the government must continue and even intensify the campaign against illicit drugs.

"'Di ko naman sinasabing nagkukulang ang ating kapulisan at ang PDEA. They are doing their job pero diinan pa natin talaga para 'yung fear factor nila kay [former] President Duterte na nawala ngayon, dapat i-compensate nila through their effort na pagdiinan talaga nila nang husto," the senator said.

While Dela Rosa called on the law enforcement agencies to intensify internal cleansing in their respective ranks, he said he will conduct an investigation on the drug issues involving PNP and PDEA agents.

"I have to conduct an investigation lalong-lalo na involved nga itong mga pulis na naman at PDEA ang involved. Talagang aaksyunan  natin 'yan pero di muna ngayong Pasko kasi magbe-break na tayo, baka next year na," he said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News