Antipolo City 2nd Rep. Romeo Acop (left), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Facebook)

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop had some choice words for fellow police general-turned solon, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa after the latter made sweeping accusations that House members were “unprincipled” and “opportunistic” for criticizing the previous Duterte administration’s war on drugs. 

Acop took strong exception to Dela Rosa’s claims, and noted that the latter's rise to the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) was due to his close ties with former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

“If anyone is the real opportunist, it’s Sen. Dela Rosa, who shamelessly used his ties with the former president to rise from PNP chief to senator, leading a bloody drug war that targeted the powerless while shielding the powerful,” Acop said in a statement Sunday, Aug. 18. 

Acop, a former PNP brigadier general, said Dela Rosa has “always been Duterte’s loyal lapdog, focused on his own career rather than justice". 

“Don’t act like a K9 of the previous administration. Prioritize the country’s interests and the general welfare of the people,” Acop told Dela Rosa. 

“I ran and won as a congressman on my own merit, not by clinging to anyone’s coattails. My job is to uncover the truth and ensure accountability, no matter who is implicated,” said Acop, who is known in the House for his no-nonsense attitude. 

Acop serves as vice chairman of all four House committees—collectively known as the quad-committee (quad-comm)—currently investigating the alleged links between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), the illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings tied to the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign. 

During its hearing last Friday, the quad-comm heard testimony from former Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, who implicated the former president's son Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, his son-in-law Manases “Mans” Carpio—the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte—and his former economic adviser Michael Yang in the smuggling of billions worth of shabu hidden in magnetic lifters at the Manila International Container Port in 2018. 

Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, criticized Dela Rosa for failing to expose these critical details during the Senate’s drug investigations. 

“Sen. Dela Rosa’s so-called investigations were a farce. Despite his position, he conveniently ignored the involvement of individuals close to the former president. Who was he protecting?” Acop asked. 

“Sen. Dela Rosa’s loyalty lies not with the truth, but with protecting his own interests and those of his political benefactors,” he added. 

Acop made it clear that the ongoing investigations by the House quad-comm were driven by a genuine pursuit of justice, not political agendas. 

“We are simply doing our duty. There’s no need to fear the quad-committee unless there’s something to hide. It’s becoming too obvious that Sen. Dela Rosa is scared,” he said. 

“Sen. Dela Rosa may have chosen to be Duterte’s loyal K9, but I will never compromise my principles. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and hold those responsible accountable—no matter how powerful they are,” the Antipolo solon further said.