Bato: Claims of 30,000 drug war deaths are ‘fake news’

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan — Reelectionist Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa rejected estimates by rights groups that the number of people killed during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs was around 30,000, calling the number "fake news."

"Yung sinasabi nila ng 30,000 kuno na namatay... 'yon lahat-lahat ay fake news," Dela Rosa said in his speech at the PDP Laban grand rally in Mangaldan, firmly defending the anti-drug campaign he once led as Philippine National Police chief. 

The government's own estimates puts the number of dead at around 6,200.

Dela Rosa also lamented the ongoing criticisms against former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces international investigation over alleged crimes against humanity.

"Sino sa inyo ang hindi nasaktan nung pinilit na dalhin si Pangulong Duterte doon sa ibang bansa? Lahat tayong nasaktan. Hanggang ngayon, lahat tayong nagluluksa," he told supporters.

(Who among you wasn't hurt when they forcefully brought President Duterte to another country? We were all hurt, until now. Until now, we are all mourning.)

The senator admitted that there were police abuses during the anti-drug operations but insisted these were isolated cases that were dealt with accordingly. He questioned why critics sought international action, suggesting a bigger political agenda was at play.

"May malaking plano sila para makuha ang poder ng ating gobyerno," he said.

(They have big plans to seize power in the government.)

Dela Rosa said that the Duterte administration launched the war on drugs not for personal gain.

"Hindi kami nag-wage ng war on drugs para yumaman. Ginawa namin ito para masalba ang kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan," he said.

(We did it to save the future of Filipino youth.)

According to Dela Rosa, at one point, drug lords had already begun influencing local elections, threatening to turn the Philippines into a narco-state.

"Meron na tayong mga lugar noon na kinokontrol ng mga drug lord—sila ang nagdedesisyon kung sino ang magiging mayor, gobernador, congressman," he said.

(We had areas that were controlled by drug lords; they would decide who would become mayor, governor, congressman.)

P20 rice

Singer and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc voiced his doubts regarding the sustainability of the P20 per kilo rice program that was recently announced by the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

The program, set to be piloted in the Visayas, follows a directive from President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to lower rice prices across the country.

During his speech, Bondoc questioned how long the P20 rice would last in the region. 

"Naniniwala ba kayo magtatagal yung P20 sa Visayas? Alam niyo po, kahit sa Biblia, ang real growth is real slow," Bondoc said.

(Do you believe that the P20 per kilo rice in the Visayas will last? Even in the Bible, real growth is real slow.)

He further criticized the government's handling of agriculture, suggesting that the quick drop in rice prices was not backed by investments in infrastructure or agricultural modernization.

"Nag-invest ba tayo sa agrikultura? Nagbigay ba tayo ng mga harvesting machine? Hindi, diba?" Bondoc asked, pointing out the lack of support for Filipino farmers and the essential infrastructure needed for long-term agricultural development.

(Have we invested in agriculture? Did we distribute harvesting machines? No, right?)

Bondoc also shared his thoughts on the effectiveness of President Duterte’s administration, particularly on investments made in infrastructure and agriculture, which he believes led to the country’s improvement during Duterte’s time in office. 

"Bakit ba umunlad ang administration ng Duterte? Nag-invest siya sa infrastruktura, sa mga farmers," he stated, contrasting this with the current administration's supposed lack of follow-through.

(Why did the Duterte administration prosper? It invested in infrastructure, in farmers.)

Bondoc then made a passionate call to the audience: "Kung hindi niyo po boboto Duterte, huwag niyo na po akong iboto. Duterte, para walang impeachment. Pag binoto niyo ang Duterte, hindi namin kayo nakakawan."

(If you're not going to vote Duterte, then don't vote for me. Duterte, so there won't be an impeachment. If you vote Duterte, we won't steal from you.)

Education system 

In a move to reform the country’s education system, attorney Jayvee Hinlo announced his plan to implement subjects such as "dangers of illegal drugs" and the "realities of prison life" to better educate the youth.

"In Grade 6, we will tackle the dangers of illegal drugs. In Grade 7, we will introduce a study of prison life. Pag nakita ng kabataan natin ang buhay-preso, matatakot na po sila tumikin ng droga. Matatakot sila mag-nakaw, matatakot sila mag-istafa, matatakot sila manakit ng kapwa-tao," Hinlo explained during his speech in Mangaldan.

(When our youth see what prison life is like, they will be too afraid to try drugs. They will be too afraid to steal, to defraud, to  hurt other people.)

The goal of these lessons, he said, is to prevent young people from engaging in criminal activities by exposing them to the harsh realities of prison life and the devastating effects of illegal drug use.

"Pangasinan, imagine n'yo ang ating kabataan dadaan sa mga topiko o subject ng [imagine the youth taking subjects like] Philippine Patriotism and Ethics Studies. We will be producing the next generation of Filipinos with love for their country and respect for others. May pag-asa ang ating bayan pag ganon ang ating gagawin sa ating kabataan [Our country will have hope if we do that with out children]," he added.

As students progress to higher levels of education, the subject will continue to cover important issues such as financial literacy, corruption, and the country’s economic future, he noted.

Healthcare 

Meanwhile, Dr. Richard Mata, another PDP-Laban senatorial candidate, is calling for urgent reforms in healthcare, with a focus on diseases like dengue.

The pediatrician expressed concern about the increasing dengue cases and the need for better treatment.

“Alam ko po ang solusyon… magiging less o walang mamamatay sa dengue pag ito po ay i-follow,” he shared, drawing from his experience in Thailand, also pointing out the differences between private and public healthcare.

(I know the solution, and fewer or no people will die if it is followed.)

“Private hospital ako doon kasi may yaman ako [I was in a private hospital there because I had money],” he said, but emphasized that both sectors should offer Malasakit Centers for equal access to care.

He compared the Philippines’ healthcare system to that of Brazil, where hospitalization is free.

“Sabi ng kaibigan ko sa Brazil, Doc, simple lang ang Brazil, third world country lang ang Brazil, pero kung ma-admit kami, libre. Kaya pala, hindi pala kailangan maging USA tayo para maging libre ang paggamot. Kailangan lang i-priority,” he said.

(My friend from Brazil said, 'It is simple in Brazil. It's a third world country, but hospitalization is free. So we do not need to become like the US to get free healthcare. It just needs to be prioritized.)

He also criticized the government’s handling of public funds, saying there is enough money available for aid but it's not being properly allocated.

“Andaming pera sa ayuda, pero kung ma-admit kayo, libre,” he said, challenging the audience: “Payag ba kayo na hindi na kayong makakatanggap ng ayuda? Pero kung ma-admit kayo, libre.”

Confidential funds 

Senatorial candidate Rodante Marcoleta, meanwhile, accused critics of Vice President Sara Duterte of using the congressional investigation into her confidential funds for political purposes, not for genuine lawmaking.

During the grand rally, Marcoleta recalled how he withdrew his support from his colleagues as early as September 2024.

"Ang sabi ko nga sa kanila sa QuadComm, ayoko na po sumama sa kanila. Nagagalit sila sa akin dahil hindi na raw po ako team player," he said. 

(I told them in the QuadComm I don't want to be with them. They were mad at me and said I wasn't a team player.)

Marcoleta claimed that the probe into Duterte’s confidential budget was a pretext to remove her from office.

He said that while over 400 government offices handle confidential funds, only the Office of the Vice President was being targeted.

"Bakit naman ang opisina lang ng Vice President ang tinarget nila? Hindi po totoo ang ginagawa," he said, warning that if the opposition wins enough seats, efforts to unseat Duterte will intensify.

"Kapag nanalo ang team na yan, tatanggalin po nila ang Vice President, totoo po ito. Naghihintay po sila ng tamang panahon."

(Why was it only the Office of the Vice President that was targeted? The accusations against her are not true. If that team wine, they will have the vice President removed. They are waiting for the right time.)

In closing, he urged voters to back PDP-Laban’s candidates in the upcoming elections.

"Makikiusap po ako sa inyong lahat... babayaran po namin ang interest na dagdag na paglilingkod," he noted.

(I am asking you...we will pay you back with interest that is added service.) 

Defending the VP

Another candidate, Raul Lambino, also strongly criticized what he described as political harassment against Vice President Sara Duterte. Lambino, a native of Pangasinan, criticized ongoing investigations into Duterte’s use of confidential funds, calling them politically motivated.

"Sa pag-imbestiga ng kung ano-anong mga klaseng investigasyon na ginagawa nila, lalo na yung ginagawa nilang panggigipit kay Inday Sara dahil lamang po diyan sa confidential fund… sabi ko, ibang usapan na ito. Tutuloy na yan sa impeachment," he said.

(They were doing all kinds of investigations, especially oppressing Inday Sara just because of those confidential funds. I said, this is something else. They're going to bring on impeachment.)

Drawing from his experience as a lawyer for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lambino said he was well-versed in legal issues surrounding confidential funds.

"Kaya kabisado ko pag pinag-usapan natin, batas patungkol sa confidential fund. At yan ang gusto nilang gawin kay Inday Sara, P150 million na confidential fund. Plunder ang bagsak po nyan o graft ang korupsyon," he added.

(I know about this subject, when it comes to confidential funds. And that's what they want to do to Inday Sara. They want to charge her with plunder or graft and corruption.)

He also revealed that he is currently facing three cases and even disbarment complaints, which he linked to his vocal defense of the Duterte family.

"Ngayon ang pinakamaiingay, sabi nila, yan si Lambino ngayon ang pinakamaiingay na nagsasabi pagdipensa sa mga Duterte sa media. At dahil po dyan kinasuhan ako, tatlong kaso ngayon ang hinaharap ko," he said, but insisted that he is undeterred.

“Isinampa sa akin na kung sinong grupo ng mga abogado patatanggal po nila akong abogado. Mayroon pa akong isa na kailangan ko sagutin sa susunod na araw. Pero hindi po ako natitinag dyan sa mga ginagawa nilang political harassment,” he added. 

(They're saying that now Lambino is the loudest in defending the Dutertes to the media. And because of that they have filed complaints against me. They want me disbarred. There's another one that they want an answer about. But I am not deterred by that kind of political harassment.)

Lambino urged Pangasinenses to vote straight for the PDP-Laban senatorial slate. — BM, GMA Integrated News

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