"Naniwala kayo sa kwentong kutsero!" Sotto: If Bato’s US visa was revoked, it is unfair!

Photo courtesy of Politiko and Journal

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday criticized the United States for allegedly cancelling the visa of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for his involvement in extrajudicial killings (EJKs).

“No official communication from US authorities yet,” Dela Rosa told Politiko Saturday (December 14).

According to Politiko, the US had revoked Dela Rosa’s visa since May 2019 for his supposed involvement in the alleged EJKs when he was implementing President Duterte’s campaign versus illegal drugs as Philippine National Police chief.

Dela Rosa amid reports that the latter’s United States visa was cancelled over the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs.I

Sotto challenged the US government in a radio interview Saturday (December 14), to show proof that the drug suspects who perished during the administration of Duterte were victims of (EJKs).

“Naniwala sila agad sa kuwentong kutsero. Bigay niyo sa akin ang listahan ng mga pangalan ng napatay. Susuportahan ko kayo. Pagbibintangan nila si Bato, eh ang ibang pagpatay nangyari umpisa pa lang ng [drug war] campaign. Sila-sila nagpapatayan,” Bato said.

Sen. Bato was chief of the Phiilippine National Police when the chief executive launched the anti-drug campaign.

The Senate President said if the report was true, the revocation of the former police chief’s visa was unfair since US officials believe unverified information due to EJKs..

“Hindi maganda kung totoo ‘yun kasi ‘di pa naman nila alam kung totoo ang EJK. Pag-aralan muna nila,”  Sotto said.

However, Dela Rosa said No official communication yet from United States officials about the reported cancellation of his visa.

“I am not sure because I haven't received any official commo (communication) coming from US authorities. Maybe to confirm it is for me to travel to the US once again and find out if I would be denied entry. You wanna come with me?” Bato said in a text message sent by his office to the Manila Bulletin Saturday afternoon.

Per report from Politiko, that the US had cancelled Dela Rosa’s visa since May 2019. 

US officials had referred to the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) as basis for the cancellation of the senator’s visa.

ARIA allows the US to provide $1.5 billion in security assistance to its allies in the Indo-Pacific region on the basis of promoting democracy, human rights and rule of law.

Source: Politiko