Sen. Bato dela Rosa No Show at Senate Hearing Again Following Reported ICC Arrest Warrant
BATO DELA ROSA – Amid his camp’s claim that he’s not hiding, the Senator informed the Senate that he will skip the budget hearing of the proposed fund of the Department of National Defense (DND) for 2026.
Earlier this month, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he allegedly has a ‘copy’ of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Dela Rosa. It was a follow-up statement for his previous claim as some concerned government agencies denied to confirm his claim.
According to Remulla, he allegedly has a copy of the ICC arrest warrant in his mobile phone and other agencies have yet to receive their copies but their claims supposedly do not invalidate his claim. Dela Rosa has always been vocal that he is allegedly the next person that the foreign court wants to investigate following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was the first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the tenure of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. It was last March 11 when the former Chief Executive was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). On the same day of his arrest, he was flown out of the country en route for the transfer of his custody to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.
While the name was not mentioned, a certain “Dela Rosa” described as PNP chief was mentioned in the case against Duterte before the ICC. The former President is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the prosecutors.
Dela Rosa asked the Supreme Court to compel Ombudsman Boying Remulla to release a copy of the supposed ICC arrest warrant against him but it was junked by the high court. Recently, amid no public sighting of the Senator, his camp claimed that he is allegedly not hiding.
Atty. Israelito Torreon, Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s lawyer, claimed that the former PNP chief-turned-lawmaker is still in the Philippines and will most likely not leave the country. The lawyer stressed that the Senator loves the country so much and just waits for the government to clarify its course of actions.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa is set to defend the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) today but, based on a post of News5 on social media, he informed the Senate Finance Committee that he will be absent. He did not state the reason behind his absence.
According to Senate Finance Committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, he will replace Dela Rosa in defending the proposed budget of the DND. Previously, amid the reported ICC arrest warrant against the Senator, Davao Congressman Paolo Duterte reacted to former PNP chief Nicolas Torre’s offer to be the one to arrest Dela Rosa.