MANILA, Philippines – SEN. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will not yield to the International Criminal Court should it order for his arrest in connection with the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Dela Rosa is among the main characters in the war on drugs according to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the staunchest critic of the former President and Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police Chief from July 2016 until April 2018.
“Kung lalabas yung arrest warrant at ito’y isi-serve sa akin ng taga-Interpol, I will not submit to their jurisdiction…dahil alam kong wala silang jurisdiction sa atin,” he told reporters.
“At kung sila’y tutulungan ng ating kapulisan, well hindi ako makipag-giyera sa ating kapulisan. I will submit to the authority of our government… Kung ang lahat ‘yan ay kautusan ng ating korte. Pero ‘pag kautusan ng iba other than our courts then I will not recognize it,” he said.
He however will respond “if they are going to make a formal communication with me.”
“Titignan ko kung paano yung laman ng communication at kung sabihin nila mag-interview lang then why not… But it doesn’t mean that I submit to their jurisdiction, it doesn’t mean that I recognize their jurisdiction over my person,” he said.
“Pero kung may itatanong sila sa akin ako ay isang matinong tao hindi ako bastos sasagutin ko ng tamang sagot ‘yung itatanong sa akin,” Dela Rosa said.
Justice Secretary Boying Remulla earlier said the government will not block the ICC should it release arrest warrants because such move will go against the country’s international commitments. The Department of Justice already submitted a brief to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. laying down all of the country’s legal options should the Interpol come in.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra however stated that the government should not bother on any consideration since it is no longer part of the ICC and has no reason to cooperate.
‘I cling to the President’s words’
Dela Rosa said he anchors on the previous pronouncement of the President that he will not allow the ICC to come in even if his relation to the Dutertes, which Dela Rosa has long been in allegiance with, has soured.
“Otherwise, kung nag-iiba na talaga eh, di nagdo-double talk lang ating Pangulo,” he said.
“Pero kung hindi man, ibig sabihin there is a problem somewhere. It’s either hindi niya kuntrolado ang Gabinete niya or siya mismo ang nado-double talk kung talagang mangyari yung ini-expect natin,” he said.
Under the 1987 Constitution, a senator or member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session.
This makes the Senate rules over any attempt to apprehend Dela Rosa, said Sen. Joel Villanueva.
“I am hoping that the Senate as an independent institution, a co-equal branch of government ay manindigan din para sa kaniyang miyembro… Kung ang Malacanan ay hindi manindigan para sa kaniyang citizen, sana lang ang Senado ay manindigan para sa kaniyang miyembro sa kaniyang isang senador niya,” said Dela Rosa
“Worst comes to worst, I expect that my colleague will stand up for what is right, will stand up for their independence from Malacanang. Kung anong gusto ng Malacanang whether it is tainted with politics or not dapat ang Senado ay may sariling stand at ito ay dapat manindigan ang Senado,” said Dela Rosa.
