Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has called on former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog to tell the truth and stop following a “script.”
The senator’s statement came after Mabilog testified before the Quad Committee of the House of Representatives, where he recounted his fears about being included on the list of narco-politicians during Dela Rosa’s time as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
Mabilog, who was in Japan at the time, claimed he received a call from a general warning him of threats to his life, prompting him to contact Dela Rosa.
He further alleged that aside from the threats, there were efforts to pressure him into accusing former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and former Senator Franklin Drilon of being involved in the drug trade.
Dela Rosa, however, dismissed these claims, urging Mabilog to clarify the narrative he is presenting.
He questioned who might be persuading Mabilog to lie, stating that the former mayor’s inclusion on President Duterte’s narco-list was due to Iloilo being a known hub for drug lords, not because Mabilog was not allied with the former president.
The senator added that he had a good opinion of Mabilog, but the latter’s failure to act against drug lord Melvin Odicta in Iloilo City contributed to his inclusion in the Drug Watchlist.
Dela Rosa suspects that the allegations are politically motivated, possibly coming from individuals seeking to undermine the Duterte administration and weaken Vice President Sara Duterte’s position ahead of the 2028 elections.
He also remarked that these efforts seem like a “fishing expedition” to find faults with Duterte and his allies.
Despite the accusations, Dela Rosa declared that he is not afraid of Congress, even stating that he would face them in a physical confrontation if necessary, even if it leads to his defeat in his 2025 senatorial reelection bid.
