By Mario Casayuran
Senator Ronald dela Rosa today said his possible application for a US visa depends on many variables.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa
(Henzberg Austriar/Senate PRIB / MANILA BULLETIN) "It depends on many variables like (coronavirus disease (COVID-19), looting in US cities, and so forth,’’ dela Rosa told Senate reporters through Viber who asked him if he is considering to apply for a new visa. "Regarding my visa, I haven’t applied for a new one yet,’’ he added. Dela Rosa issued this statement after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on instructions of President Duterte, had notified the US Embassy that it was seeking a suspension of the termination of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that allows US troops to conduct joint training with their Filipino counterparts. Previously, the US visa of Dela Rosa, who was President Duterte's first Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, had been canceled, purportedly because of his role in implementing the President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. As an offshoot of this campaign, a high number of “extrajudicial” killings had occurred. Dela Rosa later said that Washington officials informed him he could apply for another visa if he wished. Last January 28, then Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo insisted that the United States government should explain, "out of courtesy," why it canceled the visa of Senator dela Rosa. Panelo said that is the least the US could do since the Duterte government provided a reason when it banned several American senators from entering the Philippines. These American senators had backed sanctions against Philippine officials allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings and the continued detention of Senator Leila de Lima.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa(Henzberg Austriar/Senate PRIB / MANILA BULLETIN) "It depends on many variables like (coronavirus disease (COVID-19), looting in US cities, and so forth,’’ dela Rosa told Senate reporters through Viber who asked him if he is considering to apply for a new visa. "Regarding my visa, I haven’t applied for a new one yet,’’ he added. Dela Rosa issued this statement after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on instructions of President Duterte, had notified the US Embassy that it was seeking a suspension of the termination of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that allows US troops to conduct joint training with their Filipino counterparts. Previously, the US visa of Dela Rosa, who was President Duterte's first Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, had been canceled, purportedly because of his role in implementing the President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. As an offshoot of this campaign, a high number of “extrajudicial” killings had occurred. Dela Rosa later said that Washington officials informed him he could apply for another visa if he wished. Last January 28, then Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo insisted that the United States government should explain, "out of courtesy," why it canceled the visa of Senator dela Rosa. Panelo said that is the least the US could do since the Duterte government provided a reason when it banned several American senators from entering the Philippines. These American senators had backed sanctions against Philippine officials allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings and the continued detention of Senator Leila de Lima.