Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa reiterated that despite his closeness to the Dutertes he can still be an objective and apolitical judge in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Dela Rosa said he is aware that the impeachment trial against the vice president is a political process and politics plays a crucial role but he has the duty too to defend the integrity of the senate.
“As a senator judge depensahan ko ang integridad ng senado as an institution where I belong. Ipakita ko sa kanila na I will be very objective and apolitical. I will maintain my political neutrality. Basahin ko lahat at i-weigh in ko lahat yong sa prosecution at defense,” Dela Rosa said.
While dela Rosa did not deny his closeness with the Dutertes he insisted that they had no conversation with the vice president and Former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the impeachment case.
Aside from being a friend, dela Rosa has been a long- time political ally of the Dutertes and in fact running under the former president’s political party, the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas (PDP-Laban)
The senator also served as chief of police of Davao City during the vice president’s term as mayor and PNP chief during the elder Duterte’s term as president of the country.
Vice President Duterte is facing impeachment complaint in the senate in relation to the alleged misuse of the confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (Dep-Ed)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.