Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa

A ranking congressman has challenged Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to invite self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascañas and veteran anti-drug operative Eduardo Acierto as resource persons to his ongoing inquiry on illegal drugs.

According to House Assistant Majority Leader Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, Lascañas and Acierto would be better, more credible witnesses than dismissed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales, who has been the "star" of Dela Rosa's ongoing "PDEA leaks" probe.

"Kung pag-uusapan lang naman natin yung droga, bakit 'di natin patawagin si Lascanas o si Acierto?” Bongalon said in a press conference Monday, May 13.

(If we're going to talk about drugs, why not summon Lascañas or Acierto?)

"Para kasi nakikita natin one-sided yung investigation and wala naman po tayong nakukuhang credible testimony or information being said by this dismissed PDEA agent," he said.

(It's like we're seeing a one-sided investigation and we're not getting any credible testimony or information from this dismissed PDEA agent.)

Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, has earned flak from pro-administration congressmen for the attention he has given to Morales, who in the course of the inquiry has linked President Marcos to the illegal drug use.

But current PDEA leadership has basically said that the documents cited by Morales were non-existent.

Dela Rosa is a known ally of the previous president, Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte, a critic of President Marcos, has alleged connections to a death squad during his time as Davao City mayor.

Bongalon said inviting Lascañas and Acierto to the Senate probe will bring about a "fair discussion".

"Kasi itong mga taong ito alam naman natin na naging bahagi na ito ng imbestigasyon noon pa, at sila po ay may mga dokumentong pinepresenta, may co-plan, may legitimate operations and therefore (We know that these people have been part of the investigation long before, they have presented documents, they a co-plan, they have legitimate operations), for the purposes of having a fair discussion about drug related cases, let’s call these guys."

Bongalon said the Dela Rosa panel can shed light on the anti-drug war of the previous administration by inviting Lascañas and Acierto to the inquiry.

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/13/morales-kills-own-credibility-with-this-admission

“We’ll see kung sino po talaga ang nagsasabi ng totoo and kung ano talaga ang totoo, o kaya ang realidad patungkol sa war on drugs dito po sa ating bansa. Let them tell the whole world na kung anong kinalaman nila or ano ang nalalaman nila patungkol sa droga, at mga naging biktima, most especially during the previous administration,” Bongalon said.

(We'll see who really is telling the truth and the truth itself, or maybe the reality about the war on drugs in our country. Let them tell the those world what their part is or their knowledge about drugs, and the victims, most especially during the previous administration.)

He also said the integrity of the Senate is already suffering with the continued testimony of Morales.

Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief under former president Duterte.