Extreme Sincerity Needed Before Duterte Reconciliation, Says Dela Rosa
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Senator says betrayal over ICC cooperation still fresh; peace talks only possible if trust is restored
MAY 20,2025
Extreme Sincerity-Dela Rosa Says Marcos Must Prove He’s Genuine
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must show extreme sincerity if he wants to reconcile with the Duterte family. The senator stressed that trust won’t come easily, especially after what he considers a betrayal.
“Everyone wants peace,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino during a phone interview with Senate reporters. “But only if they’re being sincere.”
Dela Rosa shared his personal doubts about Marcos’ extreme sincerity. He recalled a promise made by the President—not to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the investigation into the war on drugs. That promise, according to him, was broken.
ICC Arrest Shattered Trust
On March 11, former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC upon his arrival from Hong Kong. For Dela Rosa, that action showed Marcos went back on his word. He said, “They may not have issued a warrant for me, but look at what they did to President Duterte.”
Duterte remains detained in The Hague. He awaits trial for alleged crimes against humanity connected to his controversial war on drugs.
Dela Rosa, who served as Duterte’s police chief, is also named in the ICC complaint. Thousands of people died under the anti-drug campaign they led.
Extreme Sincerity-Reconciliation Requires More Than Words
The senator responded to Marcos’ recent podcast, where the President said he wants to avoid conflict. “I already have a lot of enemies,” Marcos stated. “What I need are friends.”
Dela Rosa agrees that Filipinos want peace. But he warned that wounds from past betrayals run deep. “It’s not enough to talk about unity. We’ve been through a lot. The sincerity must be real—nothing superficial.”
As political tensions linger ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, calls for unity remain a recurring theme in the national conversation. But Dela Rosa believes that for real healing to happen, the administration must rebuild trust not through words—but through consistent, genuine actions that reflect accountability, loyalty, and truth.
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