INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa can’t help but salute President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following the latter’s pronouncement that the Philippines will not assist any investigation done by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a televised interview on Wednesday, the former police chief turned senator delivered his short but direct message to Marcos.
“Mr. President, I salute your bold statement. Ikaw ang presidente na may bayag at may isang salita. Maraming maraming salamat, Mr. President,” said dela Rosa over ANC.
(Mr. President, I salute your bold statement. You are a President with courage and a man who keeps his word. Thank you very much, Mr. President.)
Dela Rosa was the chief implementer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. He is among those mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint before the ICC.
The senator earlier told reporters that he is holding on to Marcos’ rock-solid promise that ICC investigators will not be able to touch even a single strand of his hair.
But on Monday, he challenged Marcos to “be man enough” and tell him the real score whether ICC investigators have already been allowed entry in the Philippines.
This, after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV disclosed that ICC investigators have allegedly gathered sufficient evidence against former President Duterte and a warrant of arrest against him may be issued “very soon.”