MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief , on Wednesday confirmed that his United States visa had been canceled by the United States government.

De la Rosa, who was at the forefront of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against drugs, said he was told to re-apply if he wants to secure a US visa again.

“Yes. They officially answered my official query,” said Dela Rosa when questioned if he was able to confirm earlier reports about the revocation of his US visa.

Dela Rosa said it was not clear when the US government cancelled his visa.

“No date was given. They said I just re-apply if I want to obtain a US visa because the present visa was canceled,” said De la Rosa.

Dela Rosa said he  was prompted to inquire about the status of his US visa following rumors last month that it was voided.

“I  have heard rumors about it, but I have not received any official confirmation from the US Embassy in Manila. But I’m planning to send them a letter,” Dela Rosa said.

United States President Donald Trump signed on December 20, 2019 the 2020 budget law that includes the provision  which allows the U.S. Secretary of State to bar foreign government officials from entering the U.S. if he has “credible information” of their involvement in the “wrongful imprisonment” of opposition Senator De Lima, along with a handful of other politically sensitive prisoners around the world.

US senators Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Patrick Leahy (Vermont) had amended and proposed the provision contained in the US 2020 budget law.”

Separately, a U.S. Senate resolution also passed the foreign relations committee  calling for the release of De Lima, who has been detained since 2017 over allegations of receiving drug money to bankroll his senatorial run.

 De Lima who has been detained at the PNP Custodian Center in Camp Crame, has yet to be convicted of the drug charges.

She was arrested shortly after opening a Senate investigation into Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs which the senator claimed triggered extrajudicial killings. (STACY ANG/IAMIGO/Currentph.com)