Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa on Wednesday said he is still in the Philippines and not hiding from authorities.聽
In a phone patch interview with reporters on Wednesday, dela Rosa refuted allegations that he is hiding following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration鈥檚 war on illegal drugs.聽
鈥淗indi ako nagtatago. Nandito lang ako,鈥� said dela Rosa.聽
(I鈥檓 not hiding, I鈥檓 here.)
Asked on the specifics of his location, the senator simply said that he is in the mountains of Surigao and Agusan.聽
鈥淣angangampanya ako, [nangangampanya] ako sa mga bundok ng Surigao at Agusan,鈥� said the reelectionist senator.聽
(I am campaigning in the mountains of Surigao and Agusan.)
Dela Rosa served as the first Philippine National Police chief of the Duterte administration and led the campaign against illegal drugs 鈥� which landed him on the roster of Duterte administration officials who were accused of crimes against humanity by drug war victims-families before the International Criminal Court.聽