Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Bong Go expressed readiness to face charges in local courts for alleged crimes against humanity following the House quad committee’s recommendation to indict them for their roles in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Dela Rosa dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, accusing lawmakers of attempting to derail his reelection bid. “We already expected this. The kiss-ass members in the House just want to ruin our chances,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview. He criticized the committee for claiming a reward system existed for drug war killings, which he denied.
Go also denied involvement in any crimes, asserting that the allegations were baseless. “Let the courts decide. The Filipino people should judge whether they benefited from the peace and order during former president Duterte’s term,” Go stated.
The quad committee recommended charges against Dela Rosa, Go, and several former officials, including ex-police chiefs Oscar Albayalde and Debold Sinas, for violations of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes against Humanity. Over 6,000 drug suspects were killed during the drug war, according to official figures.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would determine whether charges should be filed, emphasizing that due process must be followed. “The DOJ will review the evidence and decide on the next steps,” Marcos explained.
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) called on the administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and expedite prosecution. Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino urged the committee to expand its probe to include broader instances of extrajudicial killings and bureaucratic abuses.
The hearings, held between August and December, concluded with recommendations that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies be held accountable for the drug war’s human rights violations.
