Bato on Duterte drug war: 'No regrets, I will do it again'

Former police chief turned Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Thursday that he does not regret implementing the bloody anti-drug war campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“No, no regrets [on my part]. If you are going to give me the chance to do it again, I will do it again. The same approach,” dela Rosa told reporters.

Based on police records, around 6,000 people were killed in the drug war. Dela Rosa, however, said it was the only way "to win the battle."

“You can't fight a war, especially against the drug personalities, by being disente, by being pa-cute-cute. [There’s] no way you can win the battle, win the war [against drugs with that]. you have to be forceful enough to send your message down the spine of these criminals,” Dela Rosa added.

Dela Rosa's statement comes days before the Senate is set to begin its probe into Duterte's drug war, which will be conducted on Monday, October 28.

The former PNP chief said that he "does not need to prepare" for the hearing.

“The truth is, andyan naman yung truth, hindi mo yung mapapalitan. I know the truth, kaya hindi nila ako pwedeng hindi nila ako pwedeng gawan-gawan ng istorya na kung ano-anong alegasyon na sinasabi nila,” he said.

(The truth is out there, and you cannot change it. They cannot invent stories about me with all these allegations.)

“Kailangan malaman natin yung katotohanan. And I'm not going to harass them. I'm not going to use my power as a member of that committee. I will just establish ko lang talaga yung katotohanan," he added.

"Just observe on Monday. Basta, I am here to establish the truth.”

Accusations

At the QuadComm hearing, Dela Rosa was accused by Police Colonel Jovie Espenido of giving the order to kill suspected drug personalities, including Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog and Albuera, Leyte Rolando Espinosa. 

Espinosa was killed in his cell in Leyte in 2016 while Parojinog and 14 other people, including members of the Parojinog family, were killed in a blood-spattered police raid in 2017.

“Ang instruction lang na tulungan mo ako, Jovie, at saka si President Duterte, about this war against illegal drugs. Ang police, isa lang ang word, general word na ibigay. Lahat [ng police], alam na namin ang isang meaning din. Pagsabi na mawala, kasali na ‘yung mamatay,” Espenido said of his conversation with Dela Rosa.

(The instruction is to help him and President Duterte in the war against illegal drugs. In police terms, if you say "clean up," it means to kill.)

Former drug suspect Kerwin Espinosa also said it was dela Rosa who asked him, Espenido, and Ronnie Dayan to link then Senator and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to the illegal drug trade.

De Lima was incarcerated for seven years before the court cleared her of all three drug-related charges due to lack of evidence.

Resource person

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, said he will be a valuable resource for the Senate probe on drug war and that he will be ready to answer questions.

“I am also offering myself as a resource person... They can interrogate me, they can interpellate me anytime they want,” dela Rosa said.

“No, I won't feel offended. I will not be offended. I'm sure. Why would I be? They can ask me so I can clarify their doubts. I can defend myself in any forum. When you are telling the truth, everything will come out naturally. I’ll be frank and candid,” Dela Rosa added.

Dela Rosa also walked back his earlier word that he will punch the younger Espinosa, Kerwin, for accusing him of ordering him to link de Lima to the illegal drug trade. 

”Hindi na, hindi ko na suntukin. Dala lang yun ang init ng ulo, instant reaction. When it comes to formal hearing, even my presence, if it can intimidate him, I will...mag mellow down ako sa aking presensiya diyan sa hearing para hindi siya maintimidate,” dela Rosa added.

(No, I won't punch him. I was just carried away. When it comes to formal hearing, if I become intimidating, I will mellow down so he will not be intimidated.)

Dela Rosa also said that his former boss, President Duterte, will be "well enough" to show up on Monday.

“Three to four days ago, we were talking. He’s okay. Walang problema. Sabi niya, a-attend ako. A-attend ako. I will face anybody,” dela Rosa said.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News