(UPDATES) SEN. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Friday said he is prepared to "share the truth" about the war on illegal drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte when the Senate blue ribbon committee starts its inquiry on Monday.
"I don't need to prepare. Therein lies the truth. That cannot be replaced. I know the truth, so they can't make me up a story with whatever allegations they are saying. We need to know the truth," Dela Rosa said in Filipino.
In facing his accusers, Dela Rosa said he would be frank and candid to set the record straight on allegations being thrown against him as one of the chief implementers of the war on drugs during his tenure as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
"I will not be extra careful as far as the truth is concerned. I don't care who will be hurt by my words; as long as what I am after here is the truth, the truth will come out," he said.
"I don't care what others say. I'm not the type to be overly charming or to hold back my opinions. The truth will always come out, and I believe in being straightforward. I will be honest with everyone, and that's how I approach things," he said.
Dela Rosa said he is "also offering myself as a resource person. I am not there as a member of the panel only. They can ask me. They can interrogate me. They can interpellate me anytime they want."
Dela Rosa expressed confidence that the blue ribbon probe will reveal the truth about the implementation of the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the past administration.
"The public deserves to know the truth. Let's discover it together this Monday. You will learn how we can share the truth," he said.
If given the chance, Dela Rosa said he would re-launch the war on drugs to win the battle against drug lords.
"No regrets. Given the chance to do it again, I will do it again. The same approach," he said.
The Senate is conducting a parallel investigation amid allegations against Dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go in the ongoing probe in the House of Representatives.