LEYTE — Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa expressed concerns on Friday that his chances in the 2025 midterm elections might be negatively impacted by allegations tied to extrajudicial killings during his time as chief of the Philippine National Police. These allegations have resurfaced in a recent inquiry by the House of Representatives’ quad committee.
According to Philippines News Agency, the ongoing investigations and the characterizations being presented could sway public opinion against him, particularly if the electorate believes the narratives being advanced about his and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s roles in the killings. Speaking after a day of activities across Leyte, he voiced hope that voters would see through what he termed as “scripted and concocted” accusations, suggesting that a deeper understanding of the issues could instead bolster his reelection campaign.
During a recent quad-com hearing, Col. Jovie Espenido accused Dela Rosa of ordering the police to “neutralize” drug suspects, intensifying scrutiny on his past actions. Despite the pressures and media attention, Dela Rosa, who was first elected in 2019, remains focused on continuing his legislative work, notably pushing forward Senate Bill 2474, which aims to establish a PNP Forensic DNA Database to improve crime solving and enhance national security.
Dela Rosa has decided not to attend the quad committee hearings, citing the principle of inter-parliamentary courtesy, which respects the independence of the Senate and the House in summoning members of each chamber.