Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa remains firm in pushing for a parallel investigation into the controversial war on drugs carried out under former President Rodrigo Duterte. However, he emphasized that the final decision rests with his fellow senators.
In an interview on DZRH News' Balansyado, Dela Rosa, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said he is prepared to use his committee's motu proprio powers to initiate the investigation if necessary.
"Kung kinakailangan magsagawa tayo during the [legislative] break, then I will use motu proprio powers ng aking committee para mag-conduct," said Dela Rosa, who led the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
However, the senator clarified that the decision would depend on consultations with his Senate colleagues. If his motu proprio powers are not approved, the investigation may be delayed until after All Saints’ Day.
Another option, aside from using motu proprio powers, would be the suggestion from his fellow senators to conduct the investigation through the Senate Committee of the Whole, which Dela Rosa is open to, as it would avoid allegations of bias.
Dela Rosa noted that the intention of the parallel investigation is for the Senate to have its own perspective and to clear the accusations being thrown by the House of Representatives' Quad Committee.
"Ako'y nahihiya kasi baka sabihin ng taong bayan na ginagamit ko lang yung aking committee para linisin yung aking sarili, kaya medyo hesitant ako at first. Pero sa nakikita ko ngayon, maraming kasinungalingan na ginagawa sa lower house," said Dela Rosa.
He also criticized the narrative emerging from the Lower House, claiming it unfairly portrays law enforcement as villains while showing former drug lords and their protectors in a more favorable light.
"Nakikita ko na grabeng kasinungalingan ang nangyayari. Para bang pinapaniwalaan nila ngayon ay yung mga dating drug lord at protector. Sila na ang pinapaniwalaan, habang ang mga pulis naman ay lumalabas na kontrabida," Dela Rosa added.
The senator also expressed his willingness to participate in the investigation as both a committee member and a resource person.
"Pwede akong maging miyembro ng committee at the same time maging resource person, kung kailangan akong magsalita," he stated.
When asked if former President Duterte is willing to appear before the Senate, Dela Rosa said there has been no official confirmation yet. However, he believes that Duterte would be more comfortable facing the Senate than the House of Representatives.
Several senators expressed their concern about Dela Rosa's request as it could only lead to biases due to the Senator's alliance with the Former President.
"Alam naman nating lahat na kaalyado ni Se. Bato, Sen. Bong Go si Dating Pangulong Duterte Baka magkaroon ng kulay. Sabihin ng tao hindi kapani-paniwala ang hearing dahil siyempre may bahid na ng bias," Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said during an interview on Dos Por Dos on Thursday.
During the House Quad Committee hearing on October 11, former police colonel Royina Garma claimed that the Former President instructed her to locate a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer or operative who is capable of leading the war on drugs, replicating the Davao model.
Garma remembered her upperclassman, Edilberto Leonardo, who was in charge of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the time, and suggested him to Duterte. Leonardo then drafted a proposal, which was forwarded through Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, detailing the nationwide rollout of the operations.
Garma also claimed that the drug war had a reward system for individuals killed, with rewards based on whether the person was an alleged street-level pusher or a major drug dealer.
"The Davao model involves three levels of payments or rewards. First is the reward if the suspect is killed. Second is the funding of planned operations (or COPLANS). Third is the refund of operational expenses," Garma said.
