Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Disappointment over National Security Adviser Eduardo Año
DELA ROSA – The Senator expressed his disappointment and his belief that National Security Adviser Eduardo Año could have informed former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of his impending arrest.
The Duterte supporters are currently calling on the government and the Supreme Court to bring former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte back to the Philippines. Duterte was arrested by the PNP (Philippine National Police) last Monday upon his arrival from Hong Kong.
Former Pres. Duterte attended a thanksgiving event of the KOJC (Kingdom of Jesus Christ) in Hong Kong. It was set as a leg of the campaign sorties of the PDP-Laban but the authorities abroad prohibited the political party to campaign in a public assembly.
Duterte arrived with his team as well as his common-law wife, Honeylet Avancena, and daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte. He was detained for several hours at the Villamor Air Base and the day ended with the former President being flown to Dubai en route for the Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Currently, the 79-year-old former Chief Executive is detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution. Duterte likened his detention place to a “hotel”. He is staying at the hospital area of the detention facility as the doctors are monitoring him.
The arrest of former Pres. Duterte in which the PNP acted was called by Senator Bato dela Rosa as “betrayal to the max” by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. According to him, the Chief Executive did not stand by his words and betrayed the Filipinos and the country.
Recently, Sen. Bato dela Rosa also expressed his disappointment against National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. According to him, Año could have informed former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte about his impending arrest.
Based on a report on GMA News, Sen. Bato dela Rosa stressed that Eduardo Año is considered a trusted friend of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Meanwhile, he clarified that he is not telling the National Security Adviser what to do.
“Malungkot ako dahil nga, ano ba naman kung, ‘diba… Ako, hindi ko siya didiktahan ko anong gawin niya, pero ano ba naman kung kaibigan mo, pinagkatiwalaan ka nung tao, ngayon nandiyan na sa sitwasyon na ganyan,” dela Rosa said.
Based on the report, the Senator claimed that even if Año told Duterte about his impending arrest, the former President will still go home to the Philippines as he is allegedly determined to return despite the pieces of advice for him from his companions in Hong Kong to not come back to the country.
Eduardo Año was the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff during the Duterte administration. He later on serves as the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). According to Sen. Bato dela Rosa, hiding from the authorities is an option for him if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him, too.