Manila: Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa acknowledged on Wednesday that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s testimonies during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on his war on drugs could potentially be incriminating.
According to Philippines News Agency, Duterte admitted to the presence of the “Davao Death Squad” (DDS) and confessed to instructing police officers to incite crime suspects to resist arrest, providing grounds for lethal action. Dela Rosa noted that these statements, made under oath, could be used against Duterte, emphasizing the former president’s need to formulate a defense strategy.
Dela Rosa, who served as the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, further revealed that Duterte often disregarded his advice, preferring to follow his own judgments. Despite being named by Duterte as a former commander of the DDS during his tenure as Davao City’s police director, Dela Rosa dismissed the claim, attributing it to the former president’s humor
.