Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña on Friday urged Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to face the charges against him instead of continuing to evade authorities, warning him against using his position and influence as a senator to avoid justice.
Cendaña said Dela Rosa should stop portraying himself as a victim, stressing that the real victims were the thousands of families whose loved ones were allegedly killed during the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Senator Bato, huwag kang pa-victim, kasi ang totoong biktima dito ay yung mga libo-libong mga pamilya ng mga pinaslang at pinatay ninyo,” Cendaña said.
He also challenged Dela Rosa to show the same courage he had demonstrated in the past, urging the senator to face the case and submit to justice.
“Huwag na natin gamitin ang ating kapangyarihan Senator Bato bilang senador at impluwensiyang tao,” Cendaña said.
“Harapin mo ang kaso, harapin mo ang katarungan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa failed to meet the one-week deadline set by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. for him to surrender, according to an earlier report by RH Edniel Parrosa
The PNP has vowed to intensify its efforts to locate and arrest the senator following the unsealing of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him.
A ₱50 million bounty has also been offered for his capture.
Dela Rosa is linked to the crimes against humanity case stemming from the drug war during Duterte’s presidency. The former president is currently detained in The Hague in connection with the ICC proceedings.
