Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop on Sunday fired back at Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, calling him the “real opportunist” and “lapdog” of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
His remarks came in response to Dela Rosa's sweeping accusations that House members are “unprincipled” and “opportunistic” for criticizing the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
Acop took strong exception to Dela Rosa’s claims, noting that his rise to the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) was due to his close ties with Duterte, which he later leveraged to secure a Senate seat.
“If anyone is the real opportunist, it’s Sen. Dela Rosa, who shamelessly used his ties with the former president to rise from PNP chief to senator, leading a bloody drug war that targeted the powerless while shielding the powerful,” Acop said.
Acop, himself a former police general, said Dela Rosa has “always been Duterte’s loyal lapdog, focused on his own career rather than justice.”
“Don’t act like a K9 of the previous administration. Prioritize the country’s interests and the general welfare of the people,” Acop urged Dela Rosa.
Unlike Dela Rosa, Acop emphasized his commitment to justice and transparency.
“I ran and won as a congressman on my own merit, not by clinging to anyone’s coattails. My job is to uncover the truth and ensure accountability, no matter who is implicated,” Acop said.
Acop serves as vice chair of all four House committees—collectively known as the quad-comm—currently investigating the alleged links between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, the illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings tied to the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
During its first hearing, the quad-comm heard testimony from former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, who implicated the former president’s son Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, his son-in-law Manases “Mans” Carpio—the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte—and his former economic adviser Michael Yang in the smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu hidden in magnetic lifters at the Manila International Container Port in 2018.
Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, criticized Dela Rosa for failing to expose these critical details during the Senate’s drug investigations.
“Sen. Dela Rosa’s so-called investigations were a farce. Despite his position, he conveniently ignored the involvement of individuals close to the former president. Who was he protecting?” Acop asked.
“Sen. Dela Rosa’s loyalty lies not with the truth, but with protecting his own interests and those of his political benefactors,” he added.
Acop made it clear that the ongoing investigations by the House quad-committee are driven by a genuine pursuit of justice, not political agendas.
“We are simply doing our duty. There’s no need to fear the quad-committee unless there’s something to hide. It’s becoming too obvious that Sen. Dela Rosa is scared,” Acop said.
He also challenged Dela Rosa to name names and be specific about who he’s referring to in his accusations.
“We are here to serve the Filipino people, not to act as pawns in anyone’s political game. Unlike Sen. Dela Rosa, our focus is on the truth, and we will not be deterred by threats or accusations,”Acop stressed.
As the House quad-comm continues its work, Acop vowed to remain resolute in his commitment to uncovering the truth.
“Sen. Dela Rosa may have chosen to be Duterte’s loyal K9, but I will never compromise my principles. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and hold those responsible accountable—no matter how powerful they are,” he said.
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