Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa delivers a sponsorship speech in the Senate on June 3, 2020. Albert Calvelo, Senate PRIB

Sen. Roland Dela Rosa on June 3, 2020 delivers a sponsorship speech on on Senate Resolution No. 325 under Committee Report No. 99. In his speech, Dela Rosa recommended remedial measures to ensure road safety and end the proliferation of illegal drug use and alcohol abuse particularly in the public transport sector.  Albert Calvelo, Senate PRIB


'Davao Death Squad' term coined by media, says Sen. Dela Rosa

Hernel Tocmo

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><span data-teams="true" id="isPasted"><span dir="ltr"></span></span><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline !important;--darkreader-inline-color:#e8e6e3" data-darkreader-inline-color=""></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1729848281912464398795_999248502250406_2954095245198557658_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa delivers a sponsorship speech in the Senate on June 3, 2020. Albert Calvelo, Senate PRIB/file"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa delivers a sponsorship speech in the Senate on June 3, 2020. <em>Albert Calvelo, Senate PRIB/file</em></span></span></span></div><p><strong></strong>Senator Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa has questioned the existence of the &quot;Davao Death Squad&quot; (DDS), and claimed that the term was created by the media to describe the killings of drug personalities in Davao City in the past. </p><p>Speaking to reporters during the Defense and Sporting Arms Show at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Wednesday, Dela Rosa also denied his involvement in &quot;DDS&quot;, following claims of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma in the House Quad Committee regarding the existence of the DDS.</p><p>Dela Rosa also denied any knowledge of scenarios, in which written notes were left beside a corpse that belonged to an alleged criminal stating, &quot;This is DDS&quot;. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/12/bato-says-he-has-no-idea-about-reward-system-for-cops-in-drug-war-1032" id="isPasted">Bato says he has &#x27;no idea&#x27; about reward system for cops in drug war</a></div><p> &quot;Matagal akong pulis sa Davao pero wala akong nakitang ganon,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Forgive me if I am wrong, kayo ang media, kayo ang nagko-cover. If I am wrong, forgive me. But let me correct myself, not creation of the media, but propagated by the media, parang tinulungan ng media na gamitin yung term na yan... dahil nakita niyo man kaya na may nakasulat doon na DDS. So everytime mayroong patay na ganoon, tapos nire-refer na ng media na DDS, but not all,&quot; he added. </p><p>Dela Rosa also denied a reward system for police who kill drug suspects. </p><p>He said that during his time, the reward system was only intended for apprehensions from the most wanted persons from the list of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, such as terrorists and hardcore criminals. </p><p>&quot;As far as I am concerned, walang reward system. Never akong nagbigay ng reward. Never. And I don&#x27;t recognize that reward system. Hindi ako bilib diyan kasi alam ko, being a policeman, hindi ka na kailangan bigyan ng reward para magtrabaho. Mandato mo yan to clear your area of responsibility from illegal drugs. Trabaho mo yan,&quot; he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the senator also criticized the statements of House Committee on Public Order and Safety chairperson and Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez for allegedly bringing up his son&#x27;s name to the Quad Committee hearing.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/17/-why-investigate-yourself-solon-questions-bato-s-planned-drug-war-probe-1754" id="isPasted">&#x27;Why investigate yourself?&#x27;: Solon questions Bato&#x27;s planned drug war probe </a></div><p> &quot;Yung anak ko nagsusumikap para sa career niya tapos ganon na lang, Sasabihan ng isang congressman na &#x27;yung isang colonel doon, sinabihan na nag-babysit sa aking anak doon sa academy. P&#x27;wede ba yung mayroong babysitter doon sa isang kadete?&quot; he said.</p><p> &quot;I feel very much, parang pine-personal na tayo ng congressman na yun dahil yung anak ko nanahimik. My son is very professional, very idealistic. He is trying to show the world that he is his own man,&quot; he added.</p><div><strong>READY TO ATTEND SENATE PROBE</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Dela Rosa also vowed to &quot;set the record straight&quot; on allegations that will be discussed during the Senate&#x27;s investigation on Former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s war on drugs.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/23/burden-now-on-bato-to-address-drug-war-allegations-quad-comm-heads-say-1918">Burden now on Bato to address drug war allegations, quad comm heads say</a></div><p>&quot;I will not be extra careful as far as the truth is concerned. I don’t care kung sinong masasaktan sa aking pananalita basta ang habol ko lang dito is katotohanan, lalabas ang katotohanan,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I don’t care kung anong sabihin nila. Hindi ako ang taong pa-cute-cute, hindi ako ang taong magpa-disente kasi nga umiiwas ng bashing or what. Basta sa akin, lalabas ang katotohanan. Prangkahan tayo,&quot; he said.</p><p>The senator also expressed his desire to be a resource person and clarified that he won&#x27;t feel offended, since he believes the <span id="isPasted">Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing</span> will help reveal the truth.<strong></strong></p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/25/-duterte-de-lima-ejk-victims-kin-invited-to-senate-s-drug-war-probe-1404">Duterte, De Lima, EJK victims&#x27; kin invited to Senate&#x27;s drug war probe</a></div><p>&quot;I am also offering myself as a resource person. Hindi ako nando’n as a member of the panel lang. They can ask me. They can interrogate me. They can interpellate me anytime they want,&quot; Dela Rosa stressed. &quot;I won’t feel offended. Because kaya nga tayo nagpasalamat na magkakaroon ng parallel committee hearing para to ferret out the truth.&quot;</p><p>The Senate hearing, to be presided by <span id="isPasted"> Sen. Koko Pimentel, will start on October 28.</span></p><p>Asked if Dela Rosa is willing to implement the <span id="isPasted">anti-narcotics campaign again, he frankly affirmed.<strong></strong></span></p><div><span><strong></strong>&quot;No regrets. Given the chance to do it again, I will do it again. The same approach,&quot; he said.</span></div><p>The lawmaker recently called out the investigation of House of Representatives, claiming it is &quot;in aid of persecution&quot;.<span></span><br/></p>

<p>Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has questioned the existence of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), saying that the term was created by the media to describe the killings of drug personalities in Davao City in the past.</p>

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has questioned the existence of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), saying that the term was created by the media to describe the killings of drug personalities in Davao City in the past.

'Davao Death Squad' term coined by media, Dela Rosa claims | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

News

'Davao Death Squad' term coined by media, Dela Rosa claims

'Davao Death Squad' term coined by media, Dela Rosa claims

Hernel Tocmo,

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 25, 2024 05:39 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

Davao Death Squad

Ronald Dela Rosa

senator

war on drugs

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.