Philippine official who led president's 'war on drugs' visits Guam

Haidee Eugenio Gilbert | Pacific Daily News

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Editor's note: This story was updated to include Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr.'s statement Saturday morning responding to criticism about the visit of former Philippine National Police Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

The official who led Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's highly criticized war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of extra-judicial killings, is visiting Guam this weekend.

Former Philippine National Police Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, now the director general of the Philippine Bureau of Corrections, is a special guest of Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr., D-Dededo, a gubernatorial candidate. Rodriguez invited Dela Rosa to Guam in honor of Philippine independence month.

Rodriguez had initially scheduled Dela Rosa for a Saturday morning visit to the Legislature, but canceled it Friday night after Sen. Telena Nelson criticized Dela Rosa's visit.

Nelson said when Rodriguez notified her of a potential courtesy visit involving an unnamed public safety official from the Philippines, her office agreed to cooperate with Rodriguez's office wherever practical. She said after being notified of the Philippine official in question, she said she told Rodriguez "that this visit sent the wrong message."

"Law enforcement officials on Guam, and throughout the world, must protect the judicial

system, not act outside of it. When numerous human rights organizations allege that

thousands of lives were taken without due process, each of us have an obligation to say

no — not stand there for photos," Nelson said in a statement Friday night.

Following Nelson's criticism, several senators backed out of the visit, Rodriguez said Saturday morning. Rodriguez said he canceled the courtesy visit because he "refuse(s) to subject one of President Duterte’s top advisors to that kind of treatment."

The courtesy extended to the Legislature is unnecessary to Dela Rosa’s visit, the senator said.

Rodriguez: We should take a look at Guam's own human rights violations

Rodriguez said what's important is that "hundreds of people (on Guam) are eager to see him and speak with him throughout his public appearances Saturday and Sunday."

"While I applaud Sen. Nelson for her stance on human rights, before we subject Gen. Dela Rosa, who is our guest, to that kind of scrutiny, perhaps we should take a look at the human rights violations happening right here at home, over which her committee has oversight," Rodriguez said in a text message to Pacific Daily News Saturday morning.

Nelson is chairwoman of the Guam Legislature's Committee on Housing, Utilities, Public Safety and Homeland Security.

"It is best we discuss that after our guest leaves island so we ensure he is treated with the hafa adai spirit we are known for," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez is hosting Dela Rosa and has lined up events for him, including a Sunday dinner with members of the community.

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As chief of the country's police, Dela Rosa led the Duterte administration's crackdown against illegal drugs, which has drawn international condemnation from human rights entities and other groups. The war on drugs has left thousands dead.

Dela Rosa had said he is ready to face any charges filed against him related to Duterte's drug war, a report on Philippine-based GMA News Online says.

Reporter Haidee Eugenio covers Guam's Catholic church issues, education, government, business and more. Follow her on Twitter @haidee_eugenio. Follow Pacific Daily News on Facebook/GuamPDN and Instagram @guampdn.