MANILA – Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa defended the controversial drug war initiated under former President Rodrigo Duterte, stating it was essential to prevent the Philippines from becoming a narco-state.
Speaking during the Super Radyo dzBB Ikaw Na Ba Senatorial interviews, Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief during Duterte’s administration, acknowledged the regret over the loss of lives, including 6,000 suspected drug personalities and 80 to 120 police officers. However, he maintained that the campaign was necessary to curb the influence of powerful drug lords.
“We cannot say that we should not have waged the war against drugs. If not, the Philippines could have been a narco-state by now,” Dela Rosa said, highlighting the control drug lords once had over local governance.
On the issue of “ninja cops”—police officers involved in illegal drug activities—Dela Rosa admitted they were not immediately removed but stressed that blaming the entire police force for their actions is unjust.
Dela Rosa also expressed support for restricting confidential and intelligence funds to agencies directly involved in national security and law enforcement, such as the military, police, and Department of Justice (DOJ), to ensure transparency and avoid misuse.
Human rights organizations report that 30,000 people were killed in the drug war, including victims of alleged vigilante killings—a figure much higher than official records. Despite international criticism and an ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) inquiry, Duterte has remained unapologetic about his administration’s policies.