Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Tuesday vehemently denied the allegations of former Senator Antonio Trillanes that he was involved in the plan to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from his post.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Dela Rosa said he can never be used by anyone, including his PDP-Laban comrade, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Huwag ako, I can never be used. I swear to God nobody dictated to me, not even President Duterte. Si President Duterte hindi tumawag sa akin, walang kahit kaunt konting ni-how, ni-who," Dela Rosa said.
"Cross my heart, hope to die. Tamaan ako ng kidlat ngayon kung tinawagan kung ako'y tinawagan ni President Duterte," he furthered.
'HUWAG AKO, I CAN NEVER BE USED.'
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 7, 2024
WATCH: Mariing itinanggi ni Sen. Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa ang akusasyon ni dating Sen. @TrillanesSonny na parte ng destabilization plot laban sa Administration Marcos ang kaniyang imbestigasyon sa 'PDEA leaks'. | RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/iZSI5Fz75a
The statement was made following Trillanes' claims that Dela Rosa was among those who leaked a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) document allegedly showing Marcos was on the 2016 list of drug users.
Trillanes said the destabilization plot aims to protect Duterte from the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into his bloody "war on drugs" campaign during his term.
Dela Rosa reiterated that he is not like Trillanes, who used to vilify other political parties.
"Ikaw Trillanes kung nagpagamit ka noon sa mga political party mo, yung yellow mo na partido para siraan ang inyong mga political enemy na ginawa mo kay President Duterte noon, huwag ako. I can never be used by President Duterte," the Senator said.
Meanwhile, Trillanes quickly responded to Dela Rosa's reaction.
"Kung makareact si Bato, akala mo siya ang inapi at pinatayan. Tignan natin ang tapang niya pagdating ng ICC warrant," he said.
It can be recalled that Dela Rosa was assigned as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during Duterte's administration.