Bato Dela Rosa says no clue on alleged traitor in Duterte’s circle

PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — “I don’t know who that person is.”

Sen. Bato dela Rosa acknowledged hearing rumors about an alleged traitor within former President Rodrigo Duterte’s inner circle but maintained that he could neither confirm nor deny the person’s identity.

“I’ve heard about it, but I cannot confirm or deny because I don’t even know who is being alluded to. I have no idea who they are, but there are rumors,” Dela Rosa said in a phone interview with reporters on Wednesday.

READ: Dela Rosa on HK absence: ‘I got info ahead of ICC arrest warrant’

Dela Rosa said he had no idea whether this person could be National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who served as Duterte’s interior secretary.

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him,” said dela Rosa.

Circulating rumors say that someone from Duterte’s circle had forsaken him, convincing the former president that it was safe to go home on March 11 despite the arrest warrant that awaits him.

READ: Duterte arrest petition cites dela Rosa’s role in drug war

The 79-year-old former president was met by arresting officers upon his arrival in Manila from Hong Kong. He was apprehended under an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.

The warrant was issued on charges of crimes against humanity, allegedly committed during his administration’s war on illegal drugs.