Archbishop Socrates Villegas has publicly criticized the recent change in Senate leadership, alleging that it is part of a scheme to protect Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa from accountability. The prelate made the remarks in a statement released on May 16, 2026, as reported by multiple Philippine news outlets.
Villegas, the former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), specifically pointed to the ouster of Senate President Francis Escudero and the election of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as his replacement. He claimed that the move was orchestrated to shield dela Rosa from an investigation into his role in the war on drugs during the Duterte administration.
Senator dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2018, has been facing calls for a probe into extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war. The Senate leadership change, which took place on May 15, 2026, has been described by critics as a power grab to protect allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In his statement, Villegas urged the public to remain vigilant and to hold their elected officials accountable. He emphasized that the Church would continue to speak out against injustices and abuses of power. The Palace has not yet issued a formal response to the archbishop's comments.
