Dela Rosa wants sanctions against owner of jet that flew ex-Pres Duterte

Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa thinks it is only appropriate for the Senate panel on foreign relations to forward its findings to US President Donald Trump, seeking to freeze the assets of the owner of aircraft Gulfstream G550 which boarded former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands.

Dela Rosa made his remark during a public hearing on Thursday after panel head Sen. Imee Marcos questioned who the owner is of the private jet with the tail code RPC5219.

“If Malacanang is cooperating with [the International Criminal Court] albeit patago, kahit dine-deny nila — kahit anong kasinungalingan na pinagsasabi nila [ay] nag cooperate sila dahil nangyari na nga eh, nandoon na si [former] President Duterte, siguro naman it is a moral obligation of this committee also to share our findings to President Donald Trump para kung sinumang may ari ng Gulf Stream na ito na eroplano, kung may ari-arian ito sa America e covered siya sa executive order na pinirmahan ni President Trump,” said dela Rosa.

(If Malacañang is cooperating with the ICC, albeit in secret, even if they are denying it, maybe it’s the panel’s moral obligation to share our findings to President Trump so that whoever the owner is of this Gulfstream aircraft, if he has assets in America, he will be covered by the executive order signed by Trump.)

The senator said whoever is the owner of the private jet is liable and therefore should be sanctioned.

READ: Cabinet done with Sen. Marcos’ probe of Duterte arrest

“Sigurado ako na kung may Gulf Stream ka na eroplano, meron kang mga ari-arian sa Amerika, so prepare — prepare for the repercussions of your action,” said dela Rosa.

(I am sure that if you own a Gulfstream aircraft — you own assets in America, so prepare for the repercussions of your action.)

“Dahil very clear yan sa executive order na inissue ni President Trump na mananagot kung sino mang mag facilitate ng mga interference ng ICC to their allied countries,” he added.

(Because it is very clear in the executive order issued by President Trump that whoever facilitate in the interference of the ICC to their allied countries would be held liable.)

For her part, Sen. Marcos asked the Securities and Exchanged Commission who particularly chartered the flight that flew Duterte to the Hague on March 11.

“Kasi ang sabi ni Sec. Remulla Jonvic, siya ang nagsabi na ang private jet was paid for by the Office of the President so ngayon tinatanong ko if the company or person who owns the plane was authorized to charter or lease it,” said Marcos.

(Because Sec. Remulla said the private jet was paid for by the Office of the President, so now I am asking if the company or person who owns the plane was authorized to charter of lease it.)

At the end of Marcos’ prodding was Securities and Exchange Commission Supervising Securities Review Counsel Atty. Ferdino Logie Santiago who explained that the owner of the specific plane subject to the public inquiry was not reflected in their records.

“We defer the ownership of the airways with the proper regulatory agency which is CAAP,” said Santiago.