Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23) — The architect of the Duterte administration's bloody anti-drug campaign is now the chair of the Senate committee that would handle its investigation.

Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator, was elected chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which handles laws and hearings on matters of peace and order, public and private security agencies, illegal drugs, and drug rehabilitation.

He previously stated that he would not inhibit himself from future probes on the drug war, whose recent casualties include the life of a three year old girl who was caught in the crossfire between the police and her father, a suspect in the illegal drug trade.

Around 6,600 drug suspects were killed during anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2019. The police said these suspects resisted arrest and fought back.

"Bakit ako mag-iinhibit? Ako ba ang pumatay? Hindi naman ako ang pumatay," he said on June 25.

[Translation: Why would I inhibit? Did I kill them? I wasn't the one who killed them.]

He added that he would be willing to have someone else lead the probe if he proved ineffective.

READ: Bato won't inhibit from drug war probe: 'Ako ba ang pumatay?'

Dela Rosa was also the Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections from August to October 2018. He was also the Davao City Police Chief from 2012 to 2013, during President Rodrigo Duterte's last year as city mayor.

He was among the crafters of Oplan Tokhang, an operation that's named after the Bisaya words for knock (toktok) and plead (hangyo), in which authorities go from door to door to suspected drug users to ask them to surrender.

The Senate elected the leaders of twenty committees Tuesday, including the committee on public order, with several Senators from the 17th Congress keeping their committee chairmanships.

Another round of elections will be held the next day, with more than ten committees up for grabs, with the possible addition of new ones.

As of July 23, 2019, the Senate is currently set up as follows:

Senate President: Tito Sotto

Senate President Pro Tempore: Ralph Recto

Majority Floor Leader: Migz Zubiri

Minority Floor Leader: Franklin Drilon

Committee Chairmanships

Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon) - Dick Gordon

Agriculture and Food - Cynthia Villar

Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes - Kiko Pangilinan

Economic Affairs - Imee Marcos

Energy - Sherwin Gatchalian

Finance - Sonny Angara

Foreign Relations - Koko Pimentel

Games and Amusement - Lito Lapid

Health and Demography - Bong Go

Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development - Joel Villanueva

Local Government - Francis Tolentino

National Defense and Security - Ping Lacson

Public Order and Dangerous Drugs - Bato Dela Rosa

Public Information and Mass Media - Bong Revilla

Public Services - Grace Poe

Public Works - Manny Pacquiao

Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development - Leila de Lima

Tourism - Nancy Binay

Ways and Means - Pia Cayetano

Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality - Risa Hontiveros

Senate Minority: Franklin Drilon, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan

Under the current rules of the Senate, committees should have at least one member of from the minority.

The minority should also have representatives in the Senate Electoral Tribunal and the Committee on Appointments.