Bato: Drug war meant to 'save humanity'

CEBU, Philippines —  Sen. Ronald Bato dela Rosa maintained that the Duterte administration launched the anti-drug war to save humanity from the menace.

If he will be able to talk to the members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Dela Rosa said he would tell them that all the information in their table was not true.

“I will tell them all the accusations you have on the table against President Duterte are completely untrue,” said dela Roza in an interview over DWIZ. While he acknowledged that there were some abuses but not all cases were abuses. “Those who abused were held accountable. And if there are other abusers, we will hold them accountable for it.”

He described as unfair to consider all the cases of death in the drug war were abuses, noting that there were police officers who were hurt and even killed while doing their jobs.

“Don’t make sweeping statement. There were policemen hurt and even killed as part of the drug war…we launched the war on drugs to save humanity against drugs,” said dela Rosa, considered the architect and chief implementer of the drug war during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said the ICC does not need to conduct its investigation since justice system is working in the country.

“Our justice system is working, it is working, but let's see how far their interference goes. Let’s wait and see what the consequences are because we know that our government is consistent in its position not to allow them to proceed with their investigation, here in our jurisdiction,” he added.

While he admitted that he was at first apprehensive, dela Rosa said, “I'm not preparing, let's see if something happens with what they're doing. I think things as they come, I know where I am now, I know my stand, I am ready to defend myself, that, legal defense.”

He hopes that the ICC will have a credible, fair, valid, and impartial probe.” He, however, wondered “how will they do that they won't get in here.”

He said that the ICC was weaponized to go after Duterte by those whose illegal businesses were affected as the former president launched and implemented the drug war. — Philippine Star News Service, JMD (FREEMAN)