Bato dela Rosa sees 'favorable developments' in his canceled US visa status

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa sees "favorable developments" in the status of his US visa, which was canceled in January 2020.

In a radio interview on Saturday, Dela Rosa was asked to give updates about his US visa.

"May mga favorable developments na. Tinatawagan na, nagco-contact na kami, usap-usap na 'yung kanilang chargé d'affaires diyan. Mabait naman at nag-uusap naman kami," he said.

Dela Rosa is unsure, though, if these favorable developments would result in the restoration of his canceled visa.

"I don't know [kung maibabalik na], wala pa naman. At least maganda ang usapan namin. Wala pa akong timeline," he said.

Earlier reports said Dela Rosa's visa was canceled because of his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in connection with the government's war against drugs. Dela Rosa was former chief of the Philippine National Police which implemented the government's 'war on drugs'.

He, however, said the US Embassy did not give a specific reason for his visa's cancellation.

Following the cancellation of Dela Rosa's visa, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows American soldiers to regularly train with their Filipino counterparts in the country.

The Philippines has since suspended the VFA abrogation twice. —KG, GMA News