ANTIPOLO City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop fired back at Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, urging him to stop hiding behind Vice President Sara Duterte’s skirt and confront the allegations tied to his role as the chief enforcer of the brutal war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration.
Acop dismissed as “baseless” Dela Rosa’s claims that the testimony of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog before the House Quad Committee was part of a “demolition job” targeting the Vice President and her allies ahead of the 2028 elections.
“There’s no demolition job here—only legitimate questions that need clear answers. Sen. Dela Rosa should be man enough to face the facts and take responsibility, instead of hiding behind VP Sara’s skirt,” declared Acop, who is vice chair of all four House panels comprising the Quad Comm.
Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, underscored that the hearings aim to uncover the truth behind the extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s drug war, as well as its connections to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and the drug trade.
He stressed that there is no political maneuvering involved, as he emphasized the significance of Mabilog’s testimony in the investigation.
“Former Mayor Mabilog’s testimony is crucial. Our goal is to craft laws that will put an end to these crimes—not to play political games,” he pointed out.
Mabilog testified that he was forced to falsely accuse former Senators Franklin Drilon and Mar Roxas of being drug lords at the height of Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
He also revealed that he and his family received threats after the former president falsely branded him a protector of the drug trade.
Dela Rosa, who led Duterte’s bloody drug war as former Philippine National Police chief, dismissed the House investigation as a “fishing expedition.”
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., chair of the committee on human rights, also dismissed Dela Rosa’s claims, stressing that the investigation is focused on uncovering hidden criminal networks and holding those responsible accountable.
“Senator Dela Rosa’s claims of ‘demolition job’ and ‘fishing expedition’ are far from the truth. Our committee is committed to addressing systemic problems, and this investigation is about holding those responsible accountable—not playing politics,” Abante said.
He continued, “as legislators, it is our duty to seek justice for the victims of illegal drug operations and expose the syndicates behind them. If we fail to do so, more Filipinos will continue to suffer.”
The solon challenged the senator to accept the invitation to speak before the Quad Comm in order to air his side on the testimony given by Mabilog.
“Our doors are always open to those who wish to provide the Quad Comm with information that will help us accomplish our task,” said Abante.
Both lawmakers reiterated that the work of the joint panel is rooted in addressing the connections between illegal drugs, POGOs, and the abuse of power that has plagued the country for years.
They pointed out that the testimonies of dozens of witnesses, including Mabilog, showed the wider complexity of these networks beyond local politics and confirmed their commitment to a fair and unbiased investigation.
“Ang trabaho ng komite ay imbestigahan at gumawa ng batas para matigil ang mga krimen na ito. Wala kaming pakialam sa eleksyon ng 2028—ang mahalaga ay ang hustisya para sa mga biktima,” Acop said.
The mega-panel—composed of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts—has been investigating the interconnections between illegal POGOs, illicit drug trade, land grabbing by some Chinese nationals, and extrajudicial killings associated with the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
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