MANILA, Philippines – After getting flak for saying he wanted to study Senate procedures before he assumes office, senator-elect Ronald dela Rosa clarified that he already knows how to craft laws.

Dela Rosa made the clariciation on Wednesday, May 22, in an interview with reporters after he was proclaimed as a winner in the Senate race.

“Don’t get me wrong. Ang gusto kong malaman ‘yung rules and procedures sa loob ng Senado. Pero ‘yung sabi mong pag-craft ng batas, kung anong batas ang dapat gawin, ‘yung batas ba na walang kwenta o batas ba na kapaki-pakinabang, alam ko na po ‘yun. I am a PhD holder,” he said in response to questions.

(Don’t get me wrong. What I want to know are the rules and procedures inside the Senate. But what you are saying about crafting laws, which laws should be made, the laws that are worthless and the laws that are useful, I already know them. I am a PhD holder.)

As for his understanding of policymaking, Dela Rosa said he had it covered given that he has a doctorate degree in development administration, which he earned in the Davao-based University of Southeastern Philippines in 2006 by working on “policy making, policy research, and policy analysis.”

“Lawmaking is policymaking,” Dela Rosa said. (READ:  In 2019 campaign, Dela Rosa wins with his heart and Duterte)

Dela Rosa has also been involved in numerous hearings in the Senate and House of Representatives in aid of legislation back when he was the chief of the Philippine National Police. 

The former top cop then challenged his critics to take an intelligence quotient (IQ) test with him. He said that just because he would falter whenever he spoke in English and Filipino, didn’t mean that he was “bobo (stupid).”

Dela Rosa said that  his “number one priority” when he assumes office would be to bring back the death penalty.

Dela Rosa had said in a media interview a day after the May 13 elections that he would “take the opportunity” to go any seminars or training to be offered to newbie lawmakers “so that I’ll learn” how to do his work in the Senate. This prompted criticism about his perceived lack of preparedness to assume the role of senator.

In 2016, 106 new legislators at the House of Representatives attended an executive course in legislation ahead of the opening of the 17th Congress.  The 4-day course was organized by the HOR Institute for Legislation and Legislative Governance in partnership with the Center for Policy and Executive Development of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance. – Rappler.com