Statement of Malacañang on Claim of Sen. Bato dela Rosa over his Possible ICC Arrest Issue
Malacañang denied the claim of Senator Bato dela Rosa that the talks about his possible International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant is allegedly a “diversionary tactic”.
Following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the transfer of his custody to the International Criminal Court, Sen. Bato dela Rosa who tagged himself as the second in the ICC list of persons who might be investigated has changed his stance multiple times.
Previously, Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed that he is ready to join former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in The Hague. After a while, he also claimed that he will not allow himself to be arrested. According to him, he will seek the protection that the Senate could provide for him as an institution.
Recently, the an official from the Marcos Cabinet spoke anew about the possible ICC arrest of the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin claimed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa may be arrested if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him.
According to the Executive Secretary, the Senator may face a similar fate with former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte if the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) seeks the assistance of the Philippine authorities in arresting the accused. If the Supreme Court orders the accordance of a due process, then that’s the time when something different may happen.
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa claimed that the talks about his possible ICC arrest is allegedly a “diversionary tactic”. Based on a report on GMA News, Malacañang junked the claim of the former PNP chief-turned-Senator. Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that the possible ICC arrest issue of Dela Rosa crosses the surface every now and then.
”Unang-una po, iyong possible ICC arrest, hindi po ito old issue. Every now and then, may nadidinig po tayo na maaaring mailabas ang warrant of arrest at hindi rin po issue ang ICC, iyong case na pending before the ICC,” the Malacañang press officer said.
Based on the report, Atty. Claire Castro also stressed that the linking of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to the death of Rustan’s business executive, Paolo Tantoco, was allegedly raised by obstructionists and propagandists and not Malacañang. Tantoco reportedly passed away in the United States and some reports say the illegal substance has allegedly something to do with it.
“Kailangan lamang po nating sumagot para maipakita sa taumbayan na may mga fake news peddlers, mga obstructionists, mga propagandist na gumagawa ng kuwento na kinakailangan pang mameke ng papel para lang sirain ang Unang Ginang, ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon,” the Malacañang official said.
Previously, following the claim of Marcos’ Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that the former PNP chief-turned-Senator may be arrested if the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant, Sen. Bato dela Rosa challenged the Marcos admin to arrest him if they want to make the same alleged “very big mistake”.