Lawyer of Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Former PNP Chief
BATO DELA ROSA – The lawyer of the Senator asserted that he is still in the Philippines amid a reported arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla previously claimed that the ICC has allegedly issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Dela Rosa. He further backed his claim saying that he has a supposed “copy” of the said arrest warrant against Dela Rosa who was the first Philippine National Police chief during the term of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Duterte is currently under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands since March. Following his arrest, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was vocal about his belief that he is allegedly the next person that the ICC wants to arrest for its investigation. He changed his stance over the possible arrest several times.
Initially, Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed that he is ready to join former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague, Netherlands and to take care of him. He stressed that it could be his purpose. However, shortly after, he claimed that he will seek all legal remedies to evade arrest.
Dela Rosa sought for understanding on his multiple change of stance over a possible ICC arrest warrant calling it as his “strategy”. He previously claimed that he will seek the protection that the Senate can afford him as an institution.
Following the claim of the Ombudsman, the camp of Sen. Bato dela Rosa expressed its trust that the Philippine government will act in accordance with the law if an ICC arrest warrant was indeed issued against the lawmaker. Then, the concerned government agencies claimed they have yet to receive a copy of the reported ICC arrest warrant.
Sen. Dela Rosa was no show in the Senate plenary session after the claim of Remulla. He also filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to urge the Ombudsman to release a copy of the ICC arrest warrant but it was denied by the court. Recently, amid his absence in public sightings, his lawyer asserted that he remains in the country.
According to Atty. Israelito Torreon, the lawyer of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, the former PNP chief is still in the Philippines and he believes that he will not leave the country. Based on a post of News5 on social media, he claimed that Dela Rosa allegedly loves the country very much.
“He is still in the Philippines. He loves very much our country… I don’t think he will leave the country especially that he is the former PNP Chief,” Torreon said.
Based on the post, the lawyer of Sen. Bato dela Rosa also claimed that if the government will clarify its course of actions, then the Senator will probably make himself available. The lawyer revealed that they filed a motion for reconsideration over the court’s decision on the request of Dela Rosa to compel the Ombudsman to release his copy of the reported ICC arrest warrant.
“Kung klaruhin ng gobyerno kung ano ‘yung course of action, then baka he will make himself available,” the lawyer told One News.
Previously, following the claim of Ombudsman Boying Remulla, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte revealed that she can recommend an international lawyer to Sen. Bato dela Rosa in case he wants.