Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa: “I must admit it, being the number two accused, I am happy.”
SENATOR DELA ROSA — Here’s what the senator said about President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision against rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On Tuesday, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters that he welcomed the Philippine government’s decision not to rejoin the ICC. He even described himself as the “number 2 accused”.
The senator, who is also a former national police chief who led the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs, said that there’s no compelling reason to rejoin the Hague-based court.
He also noted that even powerful countries have decided not to be covered by the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court.
To recall, the President disapproved proposals for the country to rejoin the Hague-based court.
The President met with members of his administration’s legal team to discuss the court’s probe on the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs before announcing the Philippines’ stand on rejoining the ICC.
READ ALSO: President Bongbong Marcos Says PH Has No Intention To Rejoin ICC
On Wednesday, the senator said that he’s one with the families of drug war victims in seeking justice but not on rejoining the Hague-based court. According to him, he will only face two courts — the court in heaven and the Philippine courts.
He also said that even the complainants wouldn’t allow themselves to be prosecuted or tried by foreign courts which have no personal knowledge of what is happening in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday defended the country’s non-membership in the ICC, citing the United States, Russia, and China’s non-membership.
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