Dela Rosa on Robredo: Hindi ko sinabing nagpapa-cute siya. She is basically cute

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa clarified on Tuesday that he did not say Vice President Leni Robredo is “nagpapa-cute” in the government’s war against drugs even as he agreed that she can join the raids to properly guide anti-drug operatives.

“Hindi ko sinabing nagpapa-cute siya. She is basically cute. (But) giyera ito, reality ito. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. I’ve suffered enough in this war. Hindi lang ako kundi pamilya ko, mga tauhan ko,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with ANC.

He earlier said that the war on drugs is a bloody fight and deaths are unavoidable. 

“War is not a bed of roses. Hindi naman ito puwedeng pa-cute cute lang. 'Di naman puwedeng paboka-boka lang. Aksyon ito,” he said.

“Bakit, may war ba na walang namamatay? Hindi ka mag-wage ng war na walang mamatay. Lalaki at lalaki ang negosyo ng droga. Dadami ang apektado sa drug problem,” he added.

The former Philippine National Police chief said 20 policemen under him were killed at the height of the anti-drug war operations while 800 were wounded.

“Ang dami kong taong namatay. Twenty policemen namatay. More than 800 ang wounded sa war on drugs. So anong masasabi ko? This is reality, hindi ito fantasy film kundi action movie ito,” he said.

Asked if Robredo should join drug raids, Dela Rosa said it would be better if she does.

“Mas maganda para mas makita niya ‘yung realities on the ground. Mahirap if you are leading a war inside an air-conditioned room. If you are leading the war, you should be on the forefront of the fight para alam na alam mo 'yung sitwasyon,” he said.

Dela Rosa said that is based on his experience.

“That’s for me because I’m an operator. Alam ko 'yan, kahit na batallion commander na ako noon, kapag kami lumalakad, I always see to it na either number 1 or number 2 ako doon sa movement namin. Hindi ako nag-stay sa gitna, hindi ako sa likuran,” he said.

“Gusto kong malaman ‘yung battlefield, kung ano ang sitwasyon so that I know how to deploy my men para maganda ‘yung management ko sa aking tropa. Ako ‘yun—ang paningin ko, how to lead a war, dapat on the ground ka, nakikita mo,” he added.

But he admitted that Robredo’s situation is unique because she is the second high-ranking elected official of the country.

“Unique kasi itong sitwasyon niya. ICAD (Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs) co-chair siya, at the same time Vice President. Baka ma-compromise ‘yung security ng Vice President. May isang bala lang diyan na pupunta sa kanya delikado siya,” he said.

“Nasa kanya na ‘yan. Nasa dibdib na niya kung kakayanin niya na i-risk ang kanyang buhay. Sumama siya pero may risk talaga,” Dela Rosa added. —KG, GMA News