DAPAT umanong magpakalalaki ni Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa at akuin ang responsibilidad sa libu-libong kaso ng extrajudicial killings (EJK) nang ipatupad ng administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte ang drug war nito.

“It’s the height of cowardice. Don’t pass the blame to your subordinates. It all boils down to command responsibility. They were just following orders from the higher-ups, which happens to be the PNP under his leadership,” giit ni House Assistant Majority Leader at La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V, isa sa mga pinuno ng Young Guns ng Kamara.

Si Dela Rosa ang hepe ng Philippine National Police (PNP) nang ipatupad ang war on drug campaign ng nakaraang administrasyon.

“You (Bato) were the PNP chief at the height of the war on drugs. Command responsibility is something you should accept, and it’s something that is obviously inevitable too,” dagdag pa ni Ortega.

“These policemen risked their lives because they were following his directives. It is unjust for Senator Bato to now distance himself and let them face the consequences alone. If there is anybody who should face this head-on, it is their commander, not just the officers,” saad pa ng mambabatas.

Sinabi naman ni Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio na hindi nararapat para sa isang opisyal ng pulisya na talikuran ang kanyang mga sugatang tauhan sa isang digmaan.

Pahayag ni Dionisio: “Why is Senator Bato pinning the blame on policemen who were simply following orders?”

“Thousands died during this bloody campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs,” ayon kay Dionisio, isa sa mga lider ng Young Guns.

Ipinunto ni Dionisio na ang mga inosenteng mga pulis na sumunod lamang sa utos ay hindi dapat managot sa desisyon na ginawa ng nakaraang administrasyon, lalo na sa kanilang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga.

“They were acting under his command, and he was at the helm of the police force during that violent period. Don’t pass the blame on the lowly police officers who just did their job,” paliwanag pa ni Dionisio.

“Those officers were just doing what they were told. He cannot simply wash his hands off the bloodshed and expect his subordinates to take the fall for him. This does not bode well for all of us, most particularly in the uniformed industry,” saad pa ni Dionisio.

Kapwa nananawagan sina Ortega at Dionisio kay Dela Rosa na harapin ang kasalukuyang imbestigasyon ng International Criminal Court (ICC) at ipaliwanag ang kanyang papel sa libu-libong EJK na naganap sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno.

“He keeps accusing the House of Representatives of playing politics, but the core issue here is accountability. If he cannot explain his actions in Congress, then he should do it before the ICC. He better explain it before the ICC himself,” giit pa ni Ortega.

“This is not about politics; this is about justice. Those who lost loved ones in the drug war are waiting for accountability, and it starts with the one who was in command,” dagdag pa ni Dionisio, kasabay ng panawagan ng masusing imbestigasyon sa nasabing usapin.

Sa pagpapatuloy ng ICC investigation, kapwa nanawagan ang mga mambabatas para sa transparency at pananagutan mula kay Dela Rosa, at paghikayat na harapin ang kanyang mga responsibilidad at sagutin ang mga tanong kaugnay sa mga EJK lalo na sa mga pamilya ng mga biktimang naghahanap ng katarungan.