Villanueva says colleagues Dela Rosa, Go vital in drug war probe

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Senator Joel Villanueva sees no problem on having his colleagues, Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Go, attend as resource persons the public hearings on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

In a virtual press briefing on Friday, Villanueva said their presence would be relevant in the investigation because they played significant roles during the drug war.

Dela Rosa was the Duterte administration’s first Philippine National Police chief at the height of the drug war while Go was the special assistant to former president Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“It’s kind of weird actually for some people but on our end, malinaw naman yun (it is clear) that they are not just senators but also somehow resource persons considering na may mga nag-aakusa sa kanila (that there are some accusations against them),” Villanueva said.

“On my end, I will not ask questions unless may nakita akong kailangan kong i-verify to Senator Bato being the chief PNP noong time na ‘yun (I see something that needs to be verified to Senator Bato being the chief PNP at that time). I don’t see any problem that they are somehow resource persons and members of the Senate or members of the committee,” he added.

Villanueva also confirmed that he was asked to sit as the vice chair of the subcommittee under the Senate Blue Ribbon, which will lead the investigation starting Oct. 28.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III will chair the subcommittee.

Dela Rosa earlier assured that he is ready to entertain questions from his colleagues to clarify the accusations against him and to share what he knows about the campaign.

“I am also offering myself as a resource person. Hindi ako nandoon as a member of the panel lang (I will not be there only as a member of the panel). They can ask me. They can interrogate me,” he said in a phone interview on Thursday.

Dela Rosa said that as the PNP chief at the time, he has no regrets on what he accomplished and how he did it.

“Given the chance to do it again, I will do it again,” he said, adding that eliminating the illegal drug trade needs the toughest approach.