Senator Ronald Dela Rosa accused critics of trying to “delete the face” of perceived political opposition–mostly the Dutertes and their allies–as the 2025 elections draw near.
“They want to eradicate them,” Dela Rosa, in a radio interview said.
Dela Rosa did not identify those behind moves to get rid of the Dutertes and their staunch supporters but hinted that the current administration may be behind it.
He initially tagged politics as behind the alleged political harassment against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte.
“That issue has been there for a long time. Since it is near elections, they’re making noise out of it,” he said.
Dela Rosa was strongly reacting to the reported change in policy direction regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe on the bloody drug war during the administration of Duterte.
Being then the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Dela Rosa and the former president were among the accused in the alleged extra-judicial killings.
Dela Rosa has been holding on to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s public pronouncements that he does not recognize the ICC as maintains it has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.
Dela Rosa also slammed those involved in a ploy to link the Vice President in the war on drugs .
“Ano bang pakialam ni Vice President Inday Sara sa war on drugs? Why were they forcing her to be included? She had nothing to do with it?” insisted Dela Rosa .
“This was because they really wanted to erase the Dutertes here in the political face of the earth,” he stressed.
Dela Rosa said the that knowing the Dutertes’ brand of politics, “they do not want any chaos.”
He said they will just let the people decide on their fate. He said they will not manipulate the people to get what they wanted.
He recalled that former president Duterte did not want to run for President , but the people forced him.
In the case of the Vice President, people also pushed her to run for President, but there was this UniTeam.
“And now that they’re seeing her a sure winner in the 2028 presidential race, they’re harassing her,” noted the senator.
While acknowledging that the police escorts of the Vice President were merely trimmed down and not totally removed, he urged the government to just return the trusted aides of the VP who have been assigned to various areas in Luzon while they’re coming from Mindanao.
Dela Rosa said his motorcycle escorts were also removed. Sen. Christopher Go said he was also stripped of his police escorts.
Both Dela Rosa and Go have been known allies of the former president.
