4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan (left), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Facebook)

House Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep  Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan has advised Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to come clean and "be honest to God" about his role in the previous Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs. 

“Senator Dela Rosa, ang hinihingi natin dito ay simple lang — maging tapat tayo sa taumbayan at sa Diyos (what we’re asking for is quite simple – be honest to the people and to God). The truth has a way of coming out, no matter how much we try to hide it. It is better to face it now with honesty,” Libanan said in a statement Friday, Aug. 30. 

Libanan, a former seminarian from Seminario de Hesus Nazareno and a lawyer by profession, expressed his concern over the serious allegations against Dela Rosa and the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

“Hindi natin maaaring kalimutan ang sinabi sa atin sa 1 John 1:8-9 (We cannot forget what is said in 1 John 1:8-9): ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us.’ Alam nating lahat na walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag (We all know that no secret can remain hidden forever)." 

Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief when former president Rodrigo Duterte launched his bloody anti-drug drive in June 2016. 

Critics of the drug war have claimed that over 30,000 people were slain in the name of campaign, and that the vast majority of these were extrajudicial killings or EJKs. 

Libanan further questioned Dela Rosa’s conscience and the long-term implications of his actions. 

“The Lord has said that the sins of the parents will be visited upon their children to the third and fourth generation’ (Exodus 20:5). This is a reminder that our actions today affect not just us, but our descendants as well,” said the one-time House Committee on Justice chairman. 

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Libanan encouraged Dela Rosa to seek forgiveness and spill the beans about his role in the EJKs. 

“Senator, it’s never too late to turn back to what is right. Hindi pa huli ang lahat para sa pag-amin at pagsisisi (It’s not yet too late to admit and repent). The path to redemption is always open for those willing to walk it,” he said. 

Libanan says honesty and accountability are paramount in the face of such grave accusations of EJKs 

“As it says in Proverbs 12:22, ‘The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy,’” Libanan said as he reminded all public servants to be truthful.