While members of the Cabinet snubbed the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ second public hearing on the controversial arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa marked his first appearance in the Upper Chamber since the former chief executive’s arrest.
Dela Rosa, whose whereabouts was unknown after Duterte was arrested, was present at the continuation of the Senate panel’s hearing.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, and who became the chief implementor of the Duterte administration’s notorious anti-drug war, scored the absence of the Cabinet members of the Marcos administration, who chose to decline the committee’s invitation by citing executive privilege and the subjudice rule.
“Total snub ang ginawa nila. So dapat para maging healthy yung ating democracy, ay dapat mag respetuhan bawat co-equal branch of government (They totally snubbed the hearing. So in order for us to have a healthy democracy, the co-equal branches of government should respect each other),” Dela Rosa lamented.
“Kung ayaw nilang mag-cooperate sa imbestigasyon (If they refuse to cooperate in the investigation), then where will that lead us? Constitutional crisis?” he argued.
“Wala na. Di na tuloy kami makapag perform sa aming mga mandato, sa aming trabaho sa Senado, dahil di sila mag-cooperate (No more. We can no longer perform our mandate, on our job in the Senate because they refuse to cooperate),” he pointed out.
Also during the interview, Dela Rosa expressed his desire to apply for a Schengen visa so he can visit former president Duterte in The Hague, Netherlands.
"Kung may pagkakataon, before the elections, sana makabisita naman ako sa kanya (If there's a chance, hopefully before the elections, I hope I can visit him)," he said.
According to the senator, he is not worried about the possibility of being detained with Duterte, saying he would go there in disguise so that arresting officers would not recognize him.
“Magpunta ako dun sa The Hague, mag-wig ako para hindi nila ako makilala doon (I will go there at The Hague, wearing a wig, so they won’t recognize me there),” he said.
In jest, Dela Rosa said, he already has a variety of wigs that he could use.
Dela Rosa said he is considering applying for the visa before or after the May 2025 elections, whether or not he gets reelected as a senator.
Like Duterte, the former top cop is facing charges of crimes against humanity for his role in implementing Duterte’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs.