In a twist of political dynamics, questions arise about Senator and Duterte loyalist Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa distancing himself from the Duterte family regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug allegations against President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

During an impromptu interview on Wednesday, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evaded a direct response to whether President Bongbong Marcos Jr. was on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) drug users list during Duterte’s presidency.

Dela Rosa asserted, “No idea ako, no idea. Hindi ko sinabing hindi ko nakita, basta hindi ko alam. Dahil kung PDEA list ‘yan, PDEA ang tanungin niyo, hindi ako.”

Pressed on the existence of a similar list within the Philippine National Police (PNP), which he once headed, dela Rosa distanced himself, stating, “Wala akong alam, wala akong alam dyan. Basta concerned lang ako sa PNP, hindi ako concerned sa PDEA.”

Emphasizing that PDEA allegedly maintained the watchlist, he urged inquiries to be directed there.

Former President Duterte previously claimed that PDEA had proof of Marcos being on its drugs watchlist during his tenure as Davao City mayor.

PDEA, however, refuted this, stating that Marcos was never on the government’s list of illegal drug users.

Senator dela Rosa remained unaware of President Marcos being on the drug watchlist, emphasizing that it was purportedly a PDEA list, not PNP.

He asserted, “Kung PDEA list yan, PDEA ang tanungin nyo. Ang sabi PDEA list, so doon kayo sa PDEA magtanong [at] wag sa PNP, di ba?”

In response to Duterte’s statements, Marcos dismissed the accusations, attributing them to fentanyl.

“I think it’s the fentanyl… It is highly addictive and it has very serious side effects. And PRRD [President Rodrigo D. Duterte] has been taking the drug for a very long time now,” Marcos told reporters.

Duterte, in turn, questioned PDEA’s denial, asserting that he would release the watchlist to the public upon obtaining the document.

He criticized PDEA, stating, “Sabi mo ngayon, ‘yung PDEA wala raw record. Itong mga PDEA, mga ugok ‘to. Sino ba namang PDEA magbigay… ‘Sir, ito yung record mo d’un sa narco.”

Additionally, Duterte challenged Marcos to undergo a drug test to disprove allegations of drug use.

“Set it in Luneta Park, magpakuha siya ng dugo doon [from] independent entity or doctor. Magpakuha rin ako, sige pati ako. Pakuha siya ng blood test,” Duterte declared in a press briefing in Davao City on Tuesday.