Dela Rosa: Senate must stand independent on ICC ‘drug war’ probe

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is hoping that the Senate would “not bow down its head” to the Palace should it allow the entry of International Criminal Court (ICC) “drug war” investigators into the Philippines and grant the issuance of an arrest warrant against him. Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bato dela Rosa is hoping that the Senate would “not bow down its head” to the Palace should it allow the entry of International Criminal Court (ICC) “drug war” investigators into the Philippines and grant the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.

As the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the height of the Duterte administration’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs, dela Rosa is one of the people accused in the crimes against humanity complaint filed with the ICC due to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

Dela Rosa said he is hoping that the Senate would adopt a stand that would “reflect the true identity of the Senate” as the “last bastion of democracy” in the country.

“Dapat manindigan ang Senado as a separate and independent entity. Dapat ang Senado ay pangalagaan ang kanyang pagiging co-equal branch of government ng ibang branches of government,” the senator told reporters during an online press conference on Friday.

(The Senate must stand as a separate and independent entity. The Senate must protect its status as a co-equal branch of government with other branches of government.)

READ: Bato dela Rosa admits: ‘I am afraid of going to jail’

But does this mean that he’s hoping the Senate will not allow his arrest if ICC issues the warrants?

“Hindi naman sa hindi papayag na hindi maaresto. Just in case, worse comes to worse – kung ang Malacañang ay ultimately mag-decide otherwise from what we are expecting, I hope that the Senate will not bow down its head to the executive branch of government,” said dela Rosa.

(It’s not that they won’t allow my arrest. Just in case, worse comes to worse – if Malacañang ultimately decides otherwise from what we are expecting, I hope that the Senate will not bow down its head to the executive branch of government.)

According to the top cop-turned-senator, he has no plans of communicating these “hopes” with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, although he emphasized that he presumes the chamber’s chief knows what to do.

“As Senate president, he has to protect the integrity of the institution. I am expecting it from him. Pero ‘yung kausapin siya, kuhanin ang kanyang assurance, [alamin] ang plano nila eh hindi ko na siguro ‘yan [gagawin],” he said.

(As Senate president, he has to protect the integrity of the institution. I am expecting it from him. But talking to him, getting his assurance, [finding out] their plan, I probably won’t [do] that anymore.)

“Alam kong alam niya ang ginagawa niya,” he added.

(I know he knows what he is doing.)

Dela Rosa holds Marcos accountable

Dela Rosa then reiterated that he is holding on to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s words that he would not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC over the Philippines.

“I hold him responsible, being the chief executive of this government, I hold him responsible for everything — for every declaration regarding foreign policy matters that he has stated,” he said.

READ: Carpio: ICC warrant may be out by September

“Bakit ako mas maniniwala sa kanyang underlings who are trying to subvert his policy?” he asked.

(Why would I believe his people who are trying to subvert his policy?)

Talks about ICC arrest warrants getting issued soon have resurfaced after retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said on Tuesday night that the ICC prosecutor’s investigation of the Duterte drug war has reached a pivotal point.

According to Carpio, the “day of reckoning” for ex-President Duterte and his allies is coming closer, citing reports that ICC arrest warrants will be issued “sometime in September.”