MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte should face charges only if there is evidence implicating him in “Oplan Tokhang,” Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said. 

Dela Rosa made this remark during the GMA News Senatorial debate when he asked if the former chief executive should be charged for his bloody war on drugs. 

“Ang sagot ko dyan [on filing charges against Duterte] is conditional, no? Hybrid. Pwedeng yes, pwedeng no. Yes, in the sense na nobody is above the law. Kapag mayroon siyang nagawang kasalanan, kasuhan natin,” Dela Rosa said.

However, according to Dela Rosa, if he hasn’t committed any crime, don’t charge him based on the cases of others because “guilt is personal,” adding that it shouldn’t attribute the crimes of the ninja cops to Duterte. 

“Pero kung wala naman siya nagawang kasalanan, huwag mo siyang kasuhan base doon sa kaso ng ibang tao. Because guilt is personal. Huwag po natin ipaangkin kay Pangulong Duterte ‘yung kasalanan ng ninja cops,” he said. 

In response, Rep. France Castro said that Duterte must be charged since it is long overdue following the killings of thousands of alleged drug users “yet no one is held liable.” 

“Dapat lang kasuhan si dating presidente Duterte. Long overdue na ito. Pati mga kasama niya at nag utos sa pagpatay sa war on drugs. Libo-libo ang pinapatay ni Duterte pero wala pang napapanagot,” Castro said.

By 2022, the government officially recorded 6,252 drug suspects killed since 2016. However, human rights organizations and academics estimate that the actual number could be much higher, ranging from 12,000 to 30,000 civilians killed in “anti-drug operations” carried out by the Philippine National Police and vigilantes.

Castro likewise said even Duterte admitted that he killed people and so he needs to be charged for that as he is the reason for these killings, adding that even should be charged for these killings. 

“Mismong siya, si [former] President Duterte, ay umamin na pumatay siya ng tao. Kaya kailangan siyang kasuhan. At ito [ang punto ko]: sino ba yung nag-disenyo ng mga policy na ito? Siya rin. Siya ang dahilan ng pagpatay. Maging si Senator Bato ay dapat kasuhan,” Castro said. 

Both Dela Rosa and Duterte have been linked by the International Criminal Court to crimes against humanity during the “Oplan Tokhang” campaign. 

The heat intensified for the two senatorial candidates during the face-off as Dela Rosa also challenged Castro by bringing up her trafficking case during the debate.

“Gigil na gigil kang kasuhan si Pangulong Duterte at ako [sa] mga kaso na hindi mo kami mali-link. Kumusta na po yung conviction mo sa kasong child trafficking? Ano na po nangyari? Bakit andiyan ka pa? Hindi ka pa nakulong?,” dela Rosa said.

Castro was convicted by a Davao City court not for child trafficking but for endangering minors. The case arose from a trafficking charge filed against her and 17 others for allegedly holding minors during a solidarity mission in Talaingod, Davao Del Norte, in November 2018.

Castro countered that Dela Rosa was not answering the question and would be out of order if they were in Congress. She also insisted that she was wrongfully convicted in the endangering minors case.

“Tama lang po ‘yung ginawa ko na pagre-rescue sa mga teachers, sa mga bata na biktima ng mga harassment, intimidation at threat doon sa sinasabi ni Senator Bato na kaso. So kung sinumang teacher, gagawin ‘yun:  itong ipagtatangol  at sagipin ‘yung ating mga teacher  at mga estudyante,” Castro said.

“Walang mali doon sa ginawa po natin. Iyong mga sinasabi ng mga magulang na galit na galit sa akin, gawa-gawa lang ito. Kung titignan natin ‘yung mga magulang ng mga bata na talagang involved doon sa pag-aaral ng mga bata doon sa Lumad School, ay talagang nanghihinayang sila doon sa pagsasara ng mga eskwelahan ng mga Lumad. Dahil alam naman natin na kulang talaga sa serbisyong pang-edukasyon ang mga Lumad at sinisisi ang gobyernong Duterte,” she said.