Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno Speaks on Sen. Bato dela Rosa amid ICC Ongoing Probe on Duterte Drug War
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator can allegedly take all the drug war blame to free former President Rodrigo Duterte as per former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte recently visited former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte inside the detention facility of the ICC (International Criminal Court) in The Hague, Netherlands. Her visit came after the foreign court rejected the interim release appeal of her father.
The ICC initially denied the interim release plea of former Pres. Duterte last October. The ruling came with a unanimous decision citing the former President as allegedly a flight risk. His camp filed an appeal over the decision of the foreign court.
In its recent decision, the International Criminal Court once again denied the interim release appeal of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. It came with a unanimous decision that junked the following grounds raised by the Defense team of the former President:
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erroneously found that Duterte poses a risk under Article 58(1)(b) of the Rome Statute
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erred in its rejection of the guarantees proposed by the State willing to receive him
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erred in law by failing to take into account humanitarian considerations in assessing the right to interim release.
Following the decision of the foreign court, the Duterte family immediately claimed that they accept the decision of the ICC to reject the interim release plea “with peaceful hearts”. Both Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and Davao Congressman Omar Duterte claimed that they did not mention about the matter when they visited the former President inside the ICC detention facility.
“We will continue to work with the defense team on the case and will keep supporting Former President Rodrigo Duterte with our daily conversations. We thank everyone who prayed with us today,” the Duterte family said.
Amid the ICC detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Ombudsman Boying Remulla previously claimed that the ICC has allegedly released an arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. He was always vocal that he is allegedly the next target of the foreign court for the investigation of the Duterte drug war.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was the first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during Duterte’s tenure. He’s vocal that the former President is already like a second father to him. A certain “Dela Rosa” described as chief PNP was mentioned in the ICC case against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
Recently, amid the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa, former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno claimed during an interview with Karen Davila that the Senator can actually save former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. According to her, he can take all the blame over the drug war.
Former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno who was a staunch critic of Duterte’s drug war claimed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa can allegedly testify and save former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte from the blame. Then, the former Chief Executive may be freed.
“He can be a witness for, if he is credible at maganda yung paliwanag niya, the president, the former president will be free,” Sereno said.
During the interview, former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno further claimed that if Sen. Bato dela Rosa loves former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte so much, “he should just accept all the responsibility onto himself”. When asked if she thinks Dela Rosa will do it, the former Chief Justice said the Senator should reflect on the outcome of his duty if it led to the right result.
“Kasi mukhang hindi, di ba? Hindi naman, hindi nasugpo yung drugs, very temporary yung impact ng takot,” she claimed.
Since the Ombudsman claimed that an ICC arrest warrant was allegedly released against him, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was no show in the Senate sessions but is bound to receive salary still according to Senate Pres. Tito Sotto.