Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s favorite lapdog and Tokhang enforcer, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela
Rosa is once again working overtime to defend the Duterte family.
In a striking display of blind loyalty, Senator Bato claimed that former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s
recent testimony is a demolition job, asserting that the Quad Committee hearings are a fishing expedition
aimed at discrediting the Duterte administration and undermining Vice President Sara Duterte’s plans to
run in the 2028 presidential elections.
Bato’s statements stemmed from the most recent Quad Committee hearing where Mabilog recounted the
ordeal he faced after being falsely included in Duterte’s narco list. Fearing for his life and the safety of his
family, Mabilog sought asylum in the United States, where he has been in self-imposed exile for the past
seven years. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed during the hearing that Mabilog’s
name first appeared on the Duterte list, even though he had not been previously identified as a
drug protector by either PDEA or the Philippine National Police (PNP).
When Quad Committee members inquired about his inclusion, Mabilog said that it was politically
motivated. He noted that he is a second cousin to Drilon, while Roxas received the highest number of votes
in Iloilo City during the 2016 presidential elections. Mabilog also mentioned that Duterte’s campaign rally
in Iloilo City was crippled by a power outage, which the former president blamed on the mayor.
Mabilog is not the first official falsely accused under the Duterte administration. Former Senator Leila de
Lima, a known critic of Duterte, was detained for nearly seven years over drug charges brought against her
during his administration. De Lima was later released, with all charges dismissed by the courts.
Mabilog’s testimony highlights a pattern of abuse by the Duterte administration, using the full power of
the government to eliminate political opposition. Predictably, the Duterte camp has resorted to blanket
denials and damage control, but they are failing. Can we trust the statements of Senator Bato,
notorious for his role in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs?
From the start, the Quad Committee’s mandate has always been to investigate issues of national
importance, specifically the proliferation of the drug trade and widespread killings during the Duterte
administration. This is not a demolition job, but a legitimate inquiry to ensure that those responsible are
held accountable.
As noted by members of Congress, if Senator Bato truly has nothing to hide, he should be able to
explain the thousands of deaths that occurred under his watch. If the Duterte administration is indeed
being politically persecuted, he should have no problem presenting their side. His refusal to explain and
his attempts to discredit the Quad Committee hearings only reveal his guilt.
As a key figure in the Duterte administration, Bato’s defense is no longer a surprise. His statements
are expected. However, there is no denying the mounting evidence that is coming out in the Quad
Committee. While Bato may continue to issue blanket denials and refuse to appear at the hearings, citing
inter-chamber courtesy as a flimsy excuse, he cannot evade the scrutiny of the International Criminal Court
(ICC). Ultimately, Senator Bato will be forced to explain his role in the drug-related extrajudicial killings. In
the end, the truth will prevail, and the Duterte administration, including Bato, will face justice.

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