Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. (Photo from Joseph B. Vidal, OSP/Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa on Thursday said someone introducing themselves as part of the International Crime Court (ICC) contacted his office, which he said he ignored.
According to Dela Rosa, he ignored the call as the ICC had no jurisdiction over the Philippines.
“Wala. May nag-contact sa opisina pero in-ignore namin dahil alam man namin na wala silang jurisdicition sa atin,” said Dela Rosa in a chance interview in Manila Hotel where he filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection, when asked if the ICC has already contacted him or his office.
(None. Someone contacted the office, but we ignored it because we knew they had no jurisdiction over us.)
He further deduced that the caller may only be a random person “trying to ride the issue.”
“May nagkocontact sa opisina ko pero inignore namin. Hindi namin kinausap. Hindi namin pinatulan baka mamaya mga gago gago lang yun na mga tao na sumasakay sa issue,” he said.
(Someone contacted my office, but we ignored it. We didn’t talk. Maybe they’re just idiot people who are riding on the issue.)
Dela Rosa said the caller made up a European name and asked him for an interview. Still, the Senator questioned the timing as it came almost immediately after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV brought the issue up.
“‘Wag niyo i-entertain ‘yan, dahil baka mga siraulo lang yan na sumasakay sa issue,” he said.
(Don’t entertain that, because maybe those are just crazy people riding on the issue.)
Bato is among those mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint before the ICC.
READ: Bato dela Rosa admits: ‘I am afraid of going to jail’
Trillanes previously said Dela Rosa and four other former officials of the Philippine National Police “are now considered suspects” in the “drug war” case against Duterte.
READ: Dela Rosa, 4 others now suspects in ICC ‘drug war’ case – Trillanes
Dela Rosa was then the chief implementer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-drug war campaign.