Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has dismissed as “fake news” the claim by human rights groups that around 30,000 people were killed during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Speaking at a PDP-Laban rally in Mangaldan, Dela Rosa said the government’s official figure of around 6,200 deaths was more accurate.
In a GMA News Online report, he also defended former President Rodrigo Duterte, criticizing moves to have him tried abroad for alleged crimes against humanity. Dela Rosa said many Filipinos were hurt by these efforts and continue to mourn Duterte’s plight.
While admitting that some abuses occurred during the anti-drug operations, he insisted these were isolated cases that were addressed. He also accused critics of plotting to seize political power through international pressure.
Dela Rosa maintained that the anti-drug campaign was not about enriching officials but about saving the country’s youth from a future controlled by drug syndicates. He warned that before the crackdown, some local elections were already being influenced by drug lords.
