(MANGALDAN, Pangasinan) — A staggering number hangs over the Philippines’ recent past: 30,000 dead. But Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa calls this figure “fake news.”
Speaking forcefully to supporters, the senator defended the controversial war on drugs he once led.
“Yung sinasabi nila ng 30,000 kuno na namatay… ‘yon lahat-lahat ay fake news,” Dela Rosa declared at a rally in Mangaldan. (What they’re saying about 30,000 supposed deaths… that is all fake news.)
Rights groups estimate around 30,000 people were killed during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. However, the government’s own count puts the number much lower, at about 6,200 deaths during police operations.
Dela Rosa, the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), expressed frustration over continued criticism of Duterte. The former president faces a possible investigation for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the drug war.
“Sino sa inyo ang hindi nasaktan nung pinilit na dalhin si Pangulong Duterte doon sa ibang bansa?” Dela Rosa asked the crowd. “Lahat tayong nasaktan. Hanggang ngayon, lahat tayong nagluluksa.”
(Who among you wasn’t hurt when they tried to forcefully bring President Duterte to another country? We were all hurt. Until now, we are all mourning.)
The senator did admit some police officers abused their power during the drug war. But he insisted these were just a few bad cases. He said those officers were dealt with.
He questioned why critics are pushing for international action against Duterte. Dela Rosa suggested there are hidden political reasons.
“May malaking plano sila para makuha ang poder ng ating gobyerno,” he claimed. (They have big plans to seize power in the government.)
Dela Rosa stated the drug war was not about getting rich.
“Hindi kami nag-wage ng war on drugs para yumaman,” he said. “Ginawa namin ito para masalba ang kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan.” (We didn’t wage the war on drugs to get rich. We did it to save the future of Filipino youth.)
He painted a grim picture of the past. He claimed drug lords were starting to control elections in some areas. This threatened to turn the Philippines into a country run by drug money, he argued.
“Meron na tayong mga lugar noon na kinokontrol ng mga drug lord—sila ang nagdedesisyon kung sino ang magiging mayor, gobernador, congressman,” Dela Rosa said. (We had areas back then controlled by drug lords—they decided who would become mayor, governor, congressman.)
The sharp disagreement over the drug war’s death toll continues to divide opinions, highlighting a painful chapter in the nation’s history.
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