Bato claims Robredo ruined Philippines' reputation; Leni camp counters dela Rosa peddling disinformation

TACLOBAN CITY - Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Saturday claimed that presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo “destroyed” the Philippines' reputation before the international community because of the war on drugs.

While campaigning for vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte in Borongan, Eastern Samar, Dela Rosa said Sara Duterte had promised to be a supportive and cooperative vice president should she win in the May 2022 elections.

“Sabi niya, ‘Sir Bato kailangan iparating mo doon sa ating mga kababayan sa Eastern Samar na kung ako maging bise presidente, siguraduhin ko na ako ay very supportive at very cooperative sa ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos,’” Dela Rosa said.

“Hindi niya gagayahin ‘yung ginagawa ng pangalawang pangulo ngayon… habang si Pangulong Duterte ay busyng-busy sa kanyang ginagawa para gumanda ang pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino, ‘yung kanyang bise-presidente, pumunta sa abroad at walang ginawa kung hindi siraan ang sarili nating bayan… Nagsisinungaling pa doon sa international community na mayroon daw crimes against humanity dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

Dela Rosa was the first Philippine National Police chief of the Duterte administration. The PNP is among the lead agencies of the controversial campaign against illegal drugs that was linked to alleged extrajudicial killings.

He also claimed that Robredo had mentioned to the international community that 60,000 people were killed in the drug war.

“Kung totoo ‘to, nakaposas na ako ngayon. Hindi totoo ‘yan… alam ng pulis ang namatay sa war on drugs is only 6,000, pero ang binandera ng ating bise presidente doon sa abroad, 60,000… dinagdagan ng isang zero para siraan ang ating bayan,” alleged dela Rosa.

However, Robredo's spokesperson, Atty. Barry Gutierrez denied the Vice President had ever done this.

"The good Senator must be confused. The only Vice President we have, VP Leni Robredo, never did or said any of those things. It is disappointing that a Senator of the Republic would peddle such disinformation. But, I suppose, this type of irresponsible behavior tells us much about the candidate he is supporting," countered Gutierrez

The war on drugs has been criticized both by local and international human rights groups.

The Office of the Prosecutor-International Criminal Court had suspended its probe into the alleged crimes against humanity amid the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Philippine government.

President Duterte has maintained that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the country. — DVM, GMA News