SEN. Ronald dela Rosa yesterday reiterated he did not violate any law when he implemented the campaign against illegal drugs of the Duterte administration.

Responding to the challenge of Antipolo Rep. Rep. Romeo Acop for him to be “man enough” in addressing allegations of abuse related to the drug war, Dela Rosa said: “You and me (Acop) were both raised by the same academy (Philippine Military Academy). You and me both served the same branch of service (PNP). All I can say sir is: ‘I am alright sir!”

“Alright, sir” is a customary reply among PMA graduates to indicate that they are telling the truth and that they consciously admit that they did not violate the Cadet Honor Code.

Dela Rosa is from PMA Class of 1986, while Acop is from PMA Class of 1970.

In a Viber message to the media, the former police chief-turned-senator also said that he “did not hide” under his mother’s skirt when he fought terrorists and insurgents during his younger days in the police organization.

Thus, he said, he sees no reason why he should evade what he described were “attacks” being hurled at him.

“Why should I hide from somebody’s skirt now, knowing that your words cannot kill me?” Dela Rosa said in direct reply to Acop’s call for him not to hide “under the skirt of Vice President Sara Duterte.”

During the weekend, Acop told Dela Rosa to stop hiding under the Vice President’s skirt and confront the allegations tied to his role as the chief enforcer of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

Acop made the statement as he dismissed as “baseless” Dela Rosa’s claims that the testimony of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog before the House quad committee last Thursday was part of a “demolition job” to discredit the Vice President and her allies in the run-up to the 2028 national elections.

Acop rebuked Dela Rosa, saying that the quad committee’s investigation has nothing to do with politics, but is aimed at unearthing the truth behind the alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations during the past administration in relation to its war on drugs.

He said the investigation is also focused on the previous administration’s possible ties to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).