Bato’s claim on pressure for police general to talk on EJKs just ‘marites’ - Barbers

The claim of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa that a police general was pressured to testify against him and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) appears to be just “marites” or gossip, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Friday.

“Tungkol kay General Caramat, mukhang marites lang yun,” Barbers told a news conference.

He was referring to Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat who, Dela Rosa claimed, was asked to implicate the senator and Duterte in the killing of thousands of drug suspects during the previous administration’s anti-drug war.

Caramat was among those mentioned by Dela Rosa, who was PNP chief during the Duterte administration. He was supposedly willing to reveal all he knows in exchange for being appointed Philippine National Police chief.

“Kung ang marites ay tungkol doon sa appointment na hinihingi bilang chief PNP, gaya ng paninindigan ng ating Speaker, wala naman po sa powers na ang ating Speaker ‘yung mag-appoint po ng isang chief PNP,” Barbers said.

He said the power to appoint the PNP chief belongs to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

“Ayan po ay nasa kamay ng ating Pangulo dahil po ‘yan ay based on trust and confidence,” he said.

Barbers dismissed Dela Rosa’s claim that the Quad Comm hearings would be used against him and Duterte.

“Ang amin po eh yung katotohanan lang sa likod ng mga sindikatong ito. Ano itong mga sindikatong ito? Sino nga sumusuporta dito? Sino ang protector? Sino ang coddler ng mga sindikatong hindi ito na pinayagang mamayagpag itong mga iligal na gawain sa ating bansa. Wala pong politika na pinag-uusapan dito,” he said.

He said the senator would be welcome to attend the Quad Com hearings.

“Itong usapin ng investigation sa EJK, eh, napakalaki po ng information na pwedeng maitulong ng ating senador…dahil during his time as chief PNP, dito po lumalabas na marami pong nagkaroon ng EJK. We would appreciate any information. In fact, magagamit natin yung kanyang wisdom, yung kanyang experience sa pagsusulat ng batas sa ganun, maiiwasan na po itong mga ganito,” he said.

“Sa isang eksperyensyado at isang naging hepe ng ating kapulisan na 200,000 strong men and women in uniform, maaaring makapagbigay ng kanyang insights and information si senator. But again, kung ayaw niyang mag-cooperate o pumunta dito sa hearing, pwede naman po siyang sumulat sa ating chairman ng kanyang mga ideas,” he added.