Dwayne Pelagio

Senator Ronald “Bato Dela Rosa, the pioneer Philippine National Police Chief during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, would want to lead the campaign again if given a chance.

Photo Courtesy of OneNews.PH/Rappler.

Dela Rosa made the statement in a phone interview with reporters on October 24, citing that he has no regrets leading the drug campaign.

When asked about the 6,252 recorded deaths of Duterte’s drug war campaign by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agencies (PDEA), the senator said that it was the only way to “win the battle.”

“You can't fight a war, especially against the drug personalities, by being disente, by being pa-cute-cute,” Dela Rosa added in the interview.

On his preparedness for the Senate probe into Duterte’s drug war, the former PNP chief said that he doesn’t need to prepare.

“The truth is, andyan naman yung truth, hindi mo yung mapapalitan. I know the truth, kaya hindi nila ako pwedeng hindi nila ako pwedeng gawan-gawan ng istorya na kung ano-anong alegasyon na sinasabi nila,” the senator added in his answer to reporters.

Dela Rosa was alleged by Police Colonel Jovie Espenido of giving the order to kill suspected drug personalities, such as Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, and Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

The senator was also accused by former drug suspect Kerwin Espinosa of asking him, Espenido, and Ronnie Dayan to link then Senator Leila De Lima to the illegal drug trade.