Kristina Conti, ICC-Accredited Lawyer, Speaks on Claim of Reelected Sen. Bato dela Rosa
ICC-Accredited Lawyer Kristina Conti denied the claim of reelected Senator Bato dela Rosa that the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators allegedly force the police to testify.
The issues surrounding the controversial war on drugs of the Duterte administration continue for several years now. Currently, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is under the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte was arrested by the Philippine authorities last March 11. On the same day of his arrest, the former President was sent to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai. A known Duterte ally and Sen. Bato dela Rosa called Duterte’s arrest as allegedly a “betrayal to the max” by Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Amid tagging himself as allegedly the number two suspect in the ICC investigation over the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Sen. Bato dela Rosa has changed his stance over the matter several times. There was an instance when he claimed that he is ready to join Duterte in The Hague and take care of him while there were also instances when he admitted that he won’t allow himself to be arrested by the ICC.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos was heavily-blamed over the controversial arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Recently, after Duterte’s arrest has caused political turmoil in the Philippine government, Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed he is open to reconcile with the Duterte family.
However, Sen. Bato dela Rosa said Marcos Jr. should deport the “ICC investigators” in the country who are allegedly forcing the police to testify against him and Duterte if he is really sincere over his reconciliation remarks. He also claimed that he will open a Senate probe over his claim.
Recently, ICC-accredited lawyer Kristina Conti reacted to the claim of reelected Sen. Bato dela Rosa. Based on a report on GMA News, Conti denied the claim of the known Duterte ally saying that the ICC does not force or make testimonies for the witnesses. She also claimed that there is a transparent procedure in taking the testimonies of the witnesses.
The ICC-accredited lawyer said that the questions in the investigation of the International Criminal Court are under strict guidelines. Furthermore, she stressed that there are camera recordings. Based on the report, the ICC-accredited lawyer also claimed that important witnesses of a case must give their testimony before the ICC.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa attributed the huge votes for him in the 2025 Elections to the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. According to him, those were “protest votes”. He finished 3rd in the senatorial race and he thanked the Duterte supporters for their massive support.