BATO BLASTED
ANTIPOLO City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, senior vice chair of the House Quad Comm, on Sunday fired back at Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo for claiming that the mega-panel’s investigation was designed to destroy former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his allies.
Acop insisted that the committee’s work is grounded on evidence and not driven by personal or political motives.
“We’re just doing our job. This is not about destroying anyone or any group. It’s about uncovering the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be,” Acop said.
“If Sen. Dela Rosa feels the findings are inaccurate, he should present evidence to counter them rather than resorting to baseless claims of political intent,” he added.
Acop, tasked with presenting a summary of the committee’s findings after 13 public hearings, said the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs served as a cover for a “grand criminal enterprise” where the former president and his inner circle enabled and profited from the illegal drug trade they had publicly vowed to eliminate.
He cited, among other damning testimonies, the statement of former police intelligence officer Col. Eduardo Acierto, who explicitly named former President Duterte and Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Dela Rosa as allegedly “key figures in protecting the illegal drugs network in the Philippines.”
Dela Rosa, in an interview, took exception to the claim that he was behind the proliferation of illegal drugs, given that he was the chief implementer of the war on drugs.
He challenged Acop to meet him before a church altar to determine who was telling the truth, declaring, “How dare you, Mr. Acop?”
Acop stood his ground: “How dare I? I dare because this is my responsibility—to uncover the truth and ensure accountability. Everything I said during the summation is fully backed by the findings of the Quad Comm, based on testimonies and evidence from 13 hearings.”
“These findings are not speculation or personal opinion. If Sen. Dela Rosa has contrary evidence, let him present it. Otherwise, his accusations are baseless,” he added.
Acop, a lawyer and a former police general, criticized Dela Rosa’s behavior, pointing out that it violates a long-standing tradition of respect within the Philippine Military Academy, where both lawmakers are alumni.
“It’s a no, no for someone of the lower class in the PMA to disrespect a member of the upper class,” Acop said, referring to the academy’s hierarchy of seniority.
“Sen. Dela Rosa should remember that respect begets respect. If he truly believes in this value, he should engage in proper discourse and refrain from emotional outbursts and theatrics, like invoking religion to avoid accountability,” Acop stressed.
Acop also reminded Dela Rosa to reflect on his criticisms of other public figures in the past.
“Sen. Dela Rosa criticized [former Senator Antonio] Trillanes for disrespecting him, yet he is committing the same mistakes now,” Acop noted. “This investigation is not about personalities—it is about uncovering the truth and seeking justice for the victims of the bloody anti-drug campaign.”
Acop likewise addressed Dela Rosa’s frustration, urging calm and professionalism.
“Why is he so angry? Discourse is part of politics. If he believes the evidence is wrong, he should challenge it with facts, not emotion. The process demands respect, and anger will not change the truth,” Acop said.
He dismissed claims that the Quad Comm’s findings relied on coerced testimonies or were politically motivated.
“We go by the pieces of evidence presented in the hearings. There’s no speculation or hearsay,” Acop said. “Witnesses like Col. Acierto and others came forward voluntarily to share what they know. If anything, these testimonies are being scrutinized because they were ignored during Duterte’s time. Now, the guilty parties are feeling the pressure and are trying to deflect.”
Meanwhile, Acop questioned Panelo’s credibility and authority to speak on the Quad Comm’s findings on behalf of former President Duterte.
“Minion ka ng dating Presidente. Bakit hindi ang dating Presidente mismo ang magpaliwanag? Abogado ba siya ni dating President Duterte?
Ang alam ko, si Atty. Martin Delgra ang opisyal na abogado niya,” Acop said, referring to the former LTFRB chair who represented Duterte in a previous committee hearing.
Acop also pointed out that the former president’s own statements often incriminated him.
“Former President Duterte himself said things that aligned with the evidence we uncovered, particularly on extrajudicial killings,” Acop explained.
“The Quad Committee’s work is to bring these truths to light, whether or not it’s uncomfortable for those involved,” he reiterated.
Acop underscored that Panelo attended just a single hearing and therefore lacked the basis to question the findings.
“Atty. Panelo is entitled to his opinion, but his statements are baseless and uninformed. He just attended a single hearing when former President Duterte appeared so he has absolutely no grasp of the overwhelming evidence and damning testimonies presented before the committee,” Acop asserted.
“This investigation is about accountability and the pursuit of truth. It is not about political maneuvering or targeting anyone for 2028, as he claims,” he added.
