Instead of accusing the House leadership of playing politics, House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and House Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon both urged Senator Ronald Dela Rosa to come forward and clarify his involvement in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the controversial Duterte “war on drugs.”
Acidre noted that Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied his accountability for the violence that marred the drug campaign.
“I hope he will just deal with it. His case at the ICC is tough, so that he can face and hear the sad stories of the orphans of those killed during the drug war. He keeps distancing himself from the thousands of deaths during the war on drugs, but he was the PNP Chief during that time,” Acidre said.
Bongalon also weighed in, questioning why Dela Rosa continues to evade responsibility despite his position as PNP Chief during the most violent phase of the anti-drug operations.
“Sen. Bato cannot just brush aside the ICC’s investigation. He was at the helm of the police force when the most egregious human rights abuses were committed. It is his duty to explain what happened,” Bongalon stressed.
The ICC’s investigation into Duterte’s drug war is ongoing, with a focus on the alleged systematic killing of drug suspects.
