Metro Manila, Philippines – After skipping the House probe into his administration’s drug war due to health reasons, former President Rodrigo Duterte is now ready to face senators’ inquiry on Monday, his former police chief and now Sen. Bato dela Rosa said.
In a radio interview, the lawmaker assured Duterte’s attendance in the Senate probe into his controversial anti-narcotics campaign.
He said the former president, who skipped the House investigation on Tuesday to ‘rest’, is now in good condition.
Duterte and Dela Rosa had dinner on Friday, Oct. 25, together with Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and Duterte’s partner, Honeylet.
Dela Rosa said this was not meant to prepare for the upcoming inquiry.
“Nung nagkita kami doon sa loob ng exhibit ng mga baril, ikot-ikot doon, nagtingin-tingin ang mga baril, nag-imbita siya ng dinner pagkatapos niya mag-ikot. Kaya nga, napasama ako doon sa sa dinner,” he told DWIZ 882.
[Translation: When we met inside the firearms exhibit, while looking around and checking out the guns, he invited me to dinner after his tour. That’s how I ended up at the dinner]
The former PNP chief said he will only share what he knows from his “personal knowledge”.
“Hindi po ako magsi-share sa kanila ng tsismis. Hindi ako magsi-share sa kanila ng opinion,” he said.
[Translation: I won’t share gossip. I won’t share my opinions]
Dela Rosa is facing a number of allegations in the House quad committee probe, including accusations of ordering the implication of Sen. Leila de Lima in illegal drug trade.
Duterte’s ex-police officer Royina Garma also told lawmakers of a supposed reward system in killing drug suspects during the previous administration, which Dela Rosa also denied.
Despite this, the former Philippine National Police chief has not attended a single hearing of the House.
Dela Rosa said he trusts Sen. Koko Pimentel, who is in charge of the investigation, to be fair and impartial.
“Siya ay isang taong straight, matino na tao, fair na tao kahit na sabihin mo nasa minority siya, kami nasa majority pero pagdating sa mga punto na kailangan ng kooperasyon nila para maganda ang measures na aming tinatalakay ay maganda iyong kooperasyon na pinapakita ni Sen. Koko,” he said.
[Translate: He is a straightforward person, an honest and fair individual. Even though you could say he’s in the minority and we’re in the majority, when it comes to points where we need their cooperation for the measures we’re discussing, Sen. Koko cooperates well]
