Senate Pres. Tito Sotto Speaks on Reported Arrest Warrant vs. Sen. Bato dela Rosa by ICC
TITO SOTTO – The Senate President broke his silence on the reported International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against his colleague, Senator Bato dela Rosa.
Amid his long-time claim that he is allegedly the next person that the ICC wants to be arrested, Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s name sparked abuzz after Ombudsman Boying Remulla said that an arrest warrant has been issued by the ICC against him. The country’s chief graft-buster claimed that he got the report from the acting Secretary of Justice and he is still verifying it.
Dela Rosa was the first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the presidential term of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is currently faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity filed by the ICC prosecutors. In the case against Duterte, “Dela Rosa” who was described as PNP chief was mentioned.
Previously, after junking the accusations that he was allegedly sent by the Philippine government for a sham “welfare check” to former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in The Hague, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes claimed that the ICC will arrest Sen. Bato dela Rosa next and Sen. Bong Go will allegedly be arrested next year. Then, Dela Rosa claimed that he is not afraid and Trillanes may even come with him.
The former PNP Chief had a change of stance multiple times over the possible ICC arrest warrant. He initially said that he is ready to join and take care of the “old man” in The Hague but he also claimed that he will seek all legal remedies against a possible arrest warrant. According to him, he might seek the Senate’s protection and he admitted that hiding is one of the options he might consider.
Then, the Senate president was Sen. Chiz Escudero who is now a co-member of Sen. Bato dela Rosa in the Senate Minority bloc. Recently, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto broke his silence on the report ICC arrest warrant against the Senator.
Based on a report on GMA News, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto assured that in line with “institutional courtesy”, they will not allow any senator to be arrested within the Senate premises. However, he also clarified that an arrest outside the chamber’s premises is no longer their concern.
“But as I have said in the past and in consultation with some members of the Senate, to preserve the dignity of the Senate, and as a matter of institutional courtesy, we cannot allow any senator to be arrested in the Senate premises. Outside the Senate premises, that’s no longer our concern,” he said.
There are still no updates with regards to the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. Based on the report, during his tenure, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that Dela Rosa can stay within the Senate premises until all legal remedies are exhausted.
The camp of Sen. Bato dela Rosa previously issued a statement on the reported issuance of an ICC arrest warrant against him.