Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and among the accused in the International Criminal Court’s investigation on the bloody war on drugs, blamed what he called “anti-Duterte forces” for the resumption of the probe.
In an online media interview on Friday, Dela Rosa said these critics who want to “get revenge from” former President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials of his administration are the ones insisting on the probe.
“There are some forces na nagtutulak sa kanila (ICC), na ituloy nila. Kahit na yung Filipino people ay walang effort na, hindi nagkukumahog na mag-conduct ng investigation,” Dela Rosa said.
[Translation: There are some forces pushing the ICC to continue with the probe. Even if the Filipino people are not making an effort, not in a hurry to conduct an investigation.]
“Galit sila dahil tinamaan sila nang husto ng Duterte administration. Yung kaliwa, basta lahat ng anti-Duterte forces,” he added.
[Translation: They are angry because the Duterte administration hit them hard. The left, all the anti-Duterte forces.]
Asked if he’s considering any legal action against the accusers, Dela Rosa said, “they do not deserve my attention.”
“Bigyan ko sila ng importansya? Manigas sila. Bahala sila sa buhay nila. Wala akong pakialam,” Dela Rosa said.
[Translation: Why should I give them importance? Rot in there. I don’t care.]
He did not name names, but noted that former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was among those who filed a complaint at the ICC. Trillanes, along with former Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, in a supplemental complaint, said over a thousand were killed by the so-called Davao Death Squad when Duterte was mayor, while thousands more died in the war on drugs during his presidency.
Dela Rosa reiterated that Duterte never ordered the killings but merely asked law enforcers to defend themselves. He also maintained that local courts and authorities “are working” to investigate and prosecute alleged human rights violations.
A year after suspending the probe at the request of the Philippine government, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber said it is “not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the Court’s investigations.”
Human rights advocates and minority lawmakers are now calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to cooperate with the ICC.
“The government itself cannot credibly investigate murders allegedly committed by government agents as part of government policy. Justice requires that an impartial body investigate killings connected to the so-called war on drugs,” opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
