Bato dela Rosa to Kabataan solon: “Try to become a senator first.”
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa did not take kindly Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel’s criticism of the Senate offer of sanctuary to the senator in the event a warrant of arrest is issued against him by the International Criminal Court. —File Photo by SENATE PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — “Mag-senador ka muna.”
(Try to become a senator first)
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa fired back at Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel on Wednesday after the latter criticized the Senate’s bid to serve as a sanctuary for the senator should the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue an arrest warrant against him.
READ: Escudero says dela Rosa can seek refuge in Senate if ICC issues warrant
In a statement, Manuel said the Senate should instead redirect its energy and resources to planning how to start the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Kung kaya ng Senado na maglaan ng energy and resources from people’s money para ikanlong si Bato dela Rosa, sana i-redirect na lang iyon sa pagpaplano kung paano na masisimulan ang impeachment trial. Forthwith,” said Manuel.
(If the Senate can allocate its energy and resources to provide sanctuary to Bato dela Rosa, I hope it can redirect this to planning how it could start the impeachment trial. Forthwith.)
This did not sit well with dela Rosa who proceeded to blast his fellow lawmaker.
“What do you expect from those people? Sabihin mo, mag-senador muna siya para pakinggan ni Chiz Escudero yung kanyang kagustuhan. Sabihin mo, mag-senador ka muna, Manuel, para pakinggan ka ni [Senate President],” dela Rosa said when he was asked to comment on the matter.
(What do you expect from those people? Tell him to become a senator first so that Senate President Chiz Escudero can listen to him. Tell him to become a senator first, Manuel, for the Senate President to listen to you.)
Escudero earlier said that dela Rosa could take sanctuary in the upper chamber in case an arrest warrant be issued by the ICC, adding that he would not allow a lawmaker to be arrested within the institution’s grounds.
Atty. Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, earlier told INQUIRER.net that dela Rosa and retired police chief Oscar Albayalde could be the next to receive arrest warrants from the ICC for crimes against humanity over their roles in the previous administration’s drug war.
READ: Bato dela Rosa, Oscar Albayalde next on ICC arrest list?
“There are three names mentioned in the ICC documents. These are Duterte, dela Rosa and Albayalde. There are three additional names of police officers who are allegedly involved as well, but the documents pertaining to them are still unofficial,” Conti said.
