Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday, October 22 rejected calls for him to go on an indefinite leave of absence from the Senate while the congressional investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war is ongoing.

Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña had earlier called on him and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go to go on indefinite leave from the Senate while the chamber is investigating the drug war.

“No (I refuse). I have to confront the liars because the public deserves to know the truth,”  the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said.

Both Dela Rosa and Go were dragged into the House of Representatives’ quad committee (quadcomm) investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

At the same time, Dela Rosa said he is prepared to attend the Senate probe into the war on drugs.

Even former president Rodrigo Duterte will attend the Senate probe on his war on drugs “regardless of who is presiding.”

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, to be headed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, had set the first hearing on Monday, October 28.

“The former President told me that he is going to attend the Senate hearing regardless of who is presiding,” Dela Rosa said in a message to reporters.

Pimentel earlier told reporters that the former president would be included in the list of resource persons invited to the first hearing of the panel next week.