Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano Speaks on Drug War of Duterte Admin
ALAN PETER CAYETANO – The Senate President claimed that the drug war of the Duterte administration was allegedly a “pro-life campaign”.
For more than a year now, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte remains detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court or ICC in The Hague, Netherlands. He was arrested by the Philippine authorities in March 2025.
In March 11 last year, Philippine authorities assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in arresting former Pres. Duterte. He was brought to The Hague and is now faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity.
The ICC has also reportedly released an arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. He was the first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Duterte administration.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was absent from the Senate sessions from November 2025 when Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the ICC has released an arrest warrant against him until recently. He appeared in the chamber again when the senators voted for a change in the Senate leadership.
Now-former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto was ousted and replaced by SP Alan Peter Cayetano. Thirteen senators voted to declare the Senate presidency vacant. Following the change in leadership which is reportedly attributed to the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Sen. Bato dela Rosa has gone out of the Senate premises during a controversial incident when gunshots were heard in the chamber.
Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano is also in the center of controversy for how Sen. Bato dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate premises during the intense situation in the Senate. Recently, the Senate Chief spoke on the controversial war on drugs of the Duterte administration.
Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano was the running mate of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2016. He lost to former Vice Pres. Leni Robredo. During Duterte’s tenure, he has served as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“Ang campaign against drugs is a human rights campaign. It’s a pro-life campaign, dahil pumapatay ang drugs,” Cayetano said based on a report on ABS-CBN News.
Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano further claimed that illegal drugs “really destroys families and communities”. Aside from the Senate Chief, another known Duterte ally who is currently in the center of controversy following the disappearance of Sen. Bato dela Rosa is Sen. Robin Padilla who revealed that he was with the former PNP Chief when he left the Senate premises.
