Bato: I'll cut my throat if VP Sara proven behind Tokhang

Former Philippine National Police Chief and now Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Friday said he would cut his throat if the accusations that Vice President Sara Duterte initiated "Oplan Tokhang" in Davao City were true.

"Isa lang ang masasabi ko d'yan, 'yang sinasabi niya ngayon na bago na naman niyang version na dinadawit niya si Inday Sara sa sinasabi niyang Tokhang, paputol ako ng leeg. Paputol ako ng leeg kaagad kung ma-prove niya 'yan na si Sara ang nasa likuran niyan," dela Rosa said in an ambush interview in Davao City.

The senator, who implemented "Oplan Tokhang" nationwide during his term as PNP chief in 2016, was referring to the allegations made by former Davao Senior Police Officer Arturo "Arthur" Lascañas.

In an interview with the media earlier this week, Lascañas claimed that the Vice President, during her term as mayor of Davao City, was the one who launched Oplan Tokhang in 2012 and appointed dela Rosa as the city's chief of police.

The accusation was earlier dismissed by dela Rosa and denied by Vice President Duterte, as well as Senator Bong Go, who likewise was implicated in the allegations.

"Kaya nga ang hirap nito ah 'yung kanyang statement. Ano ba yan? Depende sa sinong nagbabayad o sinong nagpapasabi ng kanyang statement? Matagal na yan eh. That's more than six years ago... Ngayon may ibang bersyon nanaman siya," Dela Rosa said.

"Kayo? Maniniwala pa kayo d'yan? May bagong bersyon na naman ngayon. Naisama na naman si Inday Sara... Hindi na katotohanan 'yung sinasabi niya... Depende 'yan so kung sinong... gustong idiin? Ganoon pala yan?" he added.

Dela Rosa said he was "convinced" and "knew" that someone ordered Lascañas to make the accusations.

"In due time we will know. Hindi ko na lang sabihin ngayon... Nagkakataon lang ba ito? Kung kailan ito uminit 'yung isyu about [people's initiative], pinalabas nanaman si Lascañas? Ano ito? The people behind Lascañas ay naka-connect lang naman sa people behind the PI? Napakalaking coincidence... coins ba? 'Coins-idence,'" he added.

Lascañas, who spoke to the media from an undisclosed location overseas on Wednesday, was an alleged member of the original Davao Death Squad (DDS), which supposedly carried out the killings. He said he submitted a 186-page affidavit to the International Criminal Court containing information on the alleged killings perpetrated by former President Rodrigo Duterte and the involvement of Sara in the extrajudicial killings in Davao City.

“Siya nga ang pasimuno nitong Oplan Tokhang nung naka-upo siya as mayor nu'ng 2012. In-appoint nya si Bato dela Rosa as chief of police ng Davao City,” said Lascañas, referring to now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

(She initiated Oplan Tokhang when she was mayor in 2012. She appointed Bato dela Rosa as chief of police in Davao City.)

Sara Duterte earlier said she would only face any accusations linking her to the Davao Death Squad before a Philippine court. Furthermore, it was only when she was elected vice president that her name was being associated with the death squad.

“Haharapin ko ang anumang akusasyon laban sa akin [I will face any accusation against me]. But I will only face any charge against me before a Filipino judge—and only before a Filipino court,” she said.

Her father made the same declaration amid the prospect of being tried before the ICC.

The scope of the ICC probe covered killings that transpired from November 2011 until March 2019, including killings by the Davao Death Squad when the elder Duterte was still the mayor of Davao City before assuming the presidency in June 2016. — DVM, GMA Integrated news