Confirmed: Bato's US visa has been canceled

Senator Ronald dela Rosa confirmed Wednesday that his US visa has been canceled.

Dela Rosa said the United States Embassy has already answered his question on the matter.

“Yes. They officially answered my official query,” Dela Rosa said, adding that he received the official response last January 10.

“I received their official answer, the day before my birthday, January 20. What a good birthday gift, informing me that my visa is no longer valid for travel to the United States,” he added in an interview with reporters later in the day.

He said his visa was supposed to expire in 2022.

He added there was no official date given when his US visa was canceled but he was told that he can just apply for a visa again.

Dela Rosa said there was no reason given but earlier reports stated that his visa was canceled because of his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in connection with the government's war against drugs.

The former Philippine National Police made the confirmation when asked if he will accompany President Rodrigo Duterte if ever the latter will decide to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-US Summit in Las Vegas on March 14.

“Yes, if they give me back my visa,” he said.

He said he might apply if the President would ask to accompany him in the summit.

Earlier reports said the senator’s visa was canceled because of his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.

Before the official confirmation, Dela Rosa said he already received unofficial information about the visa cancellation.

In an earlier interview, he admitted he was hurt at the possibility of the cancellation of his US visa.

“Sino ba masaya na hindi ko mabisita kapatid ko sa Amerika, mga pamangkin ko? Kapag may laban si Senator (Manny) Pacquiao hindi na ako makapanood? So masama ang loob ko,” he said.

Dela Rosa said he felt bad as he used to help his counterparts in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency with law enforcement.

“Tao lang tayo, talagang sasama ang loob mo. I’ve been helping my counterparts from the US government, particularly their law enforcement, the FBI, the CIA, whatever and other agencies we’ve been working together then ngayon after that ganito tanggalin nila,” he said.

He also said the US government could have been misinformed or misled by their informants.

“Ako ba ay nag-encourage na patayin ang mga drug suspect? Ako ba ay nag-utos na patayin? Ako ba ay nag-cover up sa mga ginagawang kalokohan ng mga pulis?” he said. —JST/RSJ/LDF, GMA News