Bato dela Rosa: I can defend myself at ICC even if I’m not a lawyer
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. | PHOTO: Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Non-lawyer Sen. Bato dela Rosa said he can defend himself before International Criminal Court judges if no Filipino lawyer accredited by the tribunal would represent him.
Dela Rosa, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s first top cop, was allegedly the chief implementer of the previous administration’s brutal drug war.
“I am prepared. The most important thing is that once I arrive there in the ICC, once the trial begins, I can defend myself just in case my lawyer cannot,” said dela Rosa in an interview over DZBB on Thursday.
READ: Bato dela Rosa, Oscar Albayalde next on ICC arrest list?
“Because as you’ve said, the lawyers need to be accredited by the ICC. I am not aware which Filipinos are accredited there, I do not know,” he added.
A quick look at the ICC website shows that only five Filipinos are accredited by the tribunal. These lawyers are Atty. Gilbert Andres, Atty. Joel Butuyan, Atty. Charles Janzen Chua, Atty. Nashmyleen Marohomsalic, and Atty. Harry Roque.
Dela Rosa said he is hoping to avail of the services of these lawyers, but if no one would represent him, the former top cop turned senator said he could defend himself.
“I hope we can avail of the service of those remaining lawyers. I hope, if it’s not against their will, I hope. But if there’s none, I can defend myself when needed even if I am not a lawyer. I can defend myself as long as I stand on honestly and truth that I know,” said dela Rosa.
READ: Bato dela Rosa to seek Senate protection from ICC
According to Atty. Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, dela Rosa and retired police chief Oscar Albayalde could be the next to receive arrest warrants from ICC for crimes against humanity over their roles in the previous administration’s bloody drug war.
However, the senator, in a phone patch interview with reporters on Wednesday, said his intel source has yet to inform him about the presence of an ICC warrant for his arrest.
“So far there is none. There’s no warrant of arrest,” dela Rosa told reporters.
