Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Looming ICC Arrest
BATO DELA ROSA – The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator is confident that he can defend himself before the ICC even if he is not a lawyer.
Countless supporters of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte were left disappointed by his arrest. Undeniably, it earned the Marcos administration negative comments and tirades. Many Filipinos call on the government to bring the former President back.
Former Pres. Duterte was arrested after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against him. It is over the allegations against him regarding his administration’s war on drugs. Aside from the former President, it is believed that the ICC is also investigating Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) which was the main implementer of the war on drugs of the Duterte administration. He previously filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking an immediate TRO to block the Philippine government from further cooperating with the ICC but his plea was denied.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa tagged the move of Pres. Bongbong Marcos over former Pres. Duterte’s arrest as a “betrayal to the max”. According to the former PNP chief turned Senate lawmaker, the Chief Executive allegedly did not keep his word and turned against the Filipinos and the country.
According to Dela Rosa, in case the International Criminal Court will also release an arrest warrant against him and the Marcos government is ready to turn him over to ICC, he will seek the protection that the Senate can provide as an institution. He stressed that Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero promised to extend the protection that the upper chamber can as long as it is allowed.
Dela Rosa previously said that if all legal remedies were exhausted and they failed, he is ready to join former Pres. Duterte in The Hague. He does not want his family to be involved in a commotion, thus, he is willing to peacefully surrender himself.
Based on a report on Inquirer, Sen. Bato dela Rosa expressed his confidence that he can defend himself in case his lawyer can’t in the event of an ICC trial. According to him, he was told that the lawyer must be accredited by the ICC. There are five (5) Filipinos accredited by the Tribunal.
“I hope we can avail of the service of those remaining lawyers. I hope, if it’s not against their will, I hope. But if there’s none, I can defend myself when needed even if I am not a lawyer. I can defend myself as long as I stand on honestly and truth that I know,” the Senator said.
Based on the report, the lawyers accredited by the ICC are Atty. Nashmyleen Marohomsalic, Atty. Gilbert Andres, Atty. Harry Roque, Atty. Charles Janzen Chua, and Atty. Joel Butuyan.
Another senator who is against the arrest of former Pres. Duterte is Sen. Imee Marcos who skipped the Alyansa campaign rally today.