Bato Dela Rosa challenged by mothers of drug war victims to 'face sins'

Families of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration's war on drugs have challenged Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to face his alleged sins, after the International Criminal Court confirmed that it issued a warrant of arrest for the lawmaker.

According to Darlene Cay's report on "24 Oras," Dela Rosa has been considered a co-perpetrator in the charges for crimes against humanity in connection with the killings in former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

He was Duterte's first chief of the Philippine National Police.

Dela Rosa has since been placed under protective custody by the Senate.

"Sumuko siya," said Llore Pasco, a mother of some of the victims in the killings.

"Nasaan na ‘yung tapang niya? Ipakita niya ‘yung tapang niya na humarap sa kanyang kasalanan," she added.

"Kung si Duterte ay number one na importante, si Bato parehas silang number one din na napakaimportante. Bakit? Dahil siya yung nagpatupad, although si Duterte yung nag-utos, pero si Bato talaga yung nagpatupad ng war on drugs," Pasco said.

Sally Ramos, who witnessed how her daughter was shot to death in 2017, agreed with Pasco.

"Kaya hanggang ngayon, ma'am, masakit," Ramos said.

"Harapin niya ang kasalanan niya. Yung mga anak namin, pinatay nila nang walang kalaban-laban, harapin niya, ma'am, harapin niya kami," she added.

Randy Delos Santos, the uncle of victim Kian Delos Santos, found the video of Dela Rosa running in the Senate amusing. He said he had already cried too many tears.

"Actually, natawa ako doon sa eksena na may habulan. Kasi nang nakakita ako doon, pinapalabas sa Senate yung habulan. Sabi ko, ba't may parang may habulan? Track and field yan, hindi ko alam kung may sports fest na ba sa Senate?" Randy said.

He said he's happy with another development in the case concerning Duterte and the extrajudicial killings in the ICC. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA News