Courtesy: Senate of the Philippines
SENATOR Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa should be man enough to acknowledge the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings during the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, especially since he was the first Philippine National Police (PNP) to have this implemented.
“It’s the height of cowardice. Don’t pass the blame to your subordinates. It all boils down to command responsibility. They were just following orders from the higher ups, which happens to be the PNP under his leadership,” House Assistant Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep.
Paolo Ortega V, a leader of the “Young Guns,” pointed out.
“You (Bato) were the PNP chief at the height of the war on drugs. Command responsibility is something you should accept, and it’s something that is obviously inevitable too,” Ortega said.
“These policemen risked their lives because they were following his directives. It is unjust for Senator Bato to now distance himself and let them face the consequences alone. If there is anybody who should face this head on, it is their commander, not just the officers,” he said.
Another leader of Young Guns, Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio said it doesn’t make good of a police general who leaves his men, wounded and badly beaten, in war. “Why is Senator Bato pinning the blame on policemen who were simply following orders?”
“Thousands died during this bloody campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs,” Dionisio said, adding these innocent officers should not take the fall for whatever the previous administration did as a way to get rid of the illegal substance.
“They were acting under his command, and he was at the helm of the police force during that violent period. Don’t pass the blame on the lowly police officers who just did their job,” Dionisio reiterated.
“Those officers were just doing what they were told. He cannot simply wash his hands off the bloodshed and expect his subordinates to take the fall for him. This does not bode well for all of us, most particularly in the uniformed personnel,” he maintained.
Both Ortega and Dionisio at the same time urged dela Rosa to face the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation and explain his role in the thousands of extrajudicial killings that occurred under his watch.
“He keeps accusing the House of Representatives of playing politics, but the core issue here is accountability. If he cannot explain his actions in Congress, then he should do it before the ICC. He better explain it before the ICC himself,” Ortega stressed.
“This is not about politics; this is about justice. Those who lost loved ones in the drug war are waiting for accountability, and it starts with the one who was in command,” Dionisio insisted, calling for an “intense scrutiny” on such issues.
As the ICC investigation continues, both Ortega and Dionisio are calling for transparency and accountability from Dela Rosa, stating that the families of those killed in the drug war, and the international community, deserve answers.
