The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Ricardo De Leon has denied the allegations by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, of pressuring police officials to testify against the latter and former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a statement on Thursday, De Leon clarified his meeting with House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other police officials. The allegations stemmed from Dela Rosa. During an interview, he said that NICA chief De Leon and former senator Antonio Trillanes pressured retired and active duty officers to testify against him and Duterte.
His statement read that the purpose of his meeting with Romualdez was to accompany Major General Caramat, to express his interest in being appointed as the next Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief.
“During our conversation, he (Caramat) offered to disclose everything he knew about extrajudicial killings (EJK) and the drug war, including the list of names targeted for killing, weekly quotas, and the payment process involved in exchange for the top PNP post,” he explained.
In response, Romualdez clarified that he did not influence the decision to appoint PNP Chiefs, as it is solely the President’s prerogative and trust.
“I also deny the allegation of Sen. Bato dela Rosa that I have discussed with former Chief PNP General Oscar D. Albayalde and PBGen Eleazar P. Matta to testify in the ICC,” he ended.
Dela Rosa served as the PNP Chief during the previous administration’s war on drugs.
