Bato dela Rosa tests positive for COVID-19

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the controversial former PNP Chief who launched the drug war with President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a Facebook post today, Nov. 20, Dela Rosa said, “I am sorry to inform you that I tested positive for Covid19 yesterday. To all who made contact with me, please do the appropriate protocols.”

He is the fifth senator that has contracted COVID-19, after Senators Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Bong Revilla.

Philstar.com reported that since May, the Senate has been conducting “hybrid” hearings and sessions, with some senators attending in person and others joining via teleconference. 

An ally of Duterte, Dela Rosa backed the president’s use of military and police to enforce quarantine rules even as violations and abuses were reported in the early weeks of the lockdown, which started in March.

Dela Rosa also recently called NCRPO director Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas as a “very good choice” to become the new PNP chief despite Sinas violating quarantine rules when he held a “mañanita” party for 55th his birthday in May, when the country was under a hard lockdown or ECQ.

The Philippines has 415,067 COVID-19 cases and 8,025 deaths as of today.

Banner photo from Dela Rosa’s Facebook page.