Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on “Personal” Disappointment over National Security Adviser Eduardo Año
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator admitted his disappointment over National Security Adviser Eduardo Año for allegedly not informing Duterte about the impending arrest.
The arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte shocked the Filipino populace. The former Chief Executive was arrested by the authorities of the Philippine National Police (PNP) upon his arrival from Hong Kong. He came from a thanksgiving event of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members abroad.
Supposedly, the said thanksgiving event was a leg of the campaign sorties of the PDP-Laban. However, the Hong Kong authorities did not allow the group to campaign in a public assembly.
On the same day of his arrest, former Pres. Duterte was flown to Dubai en route for the Netherlands to face the accusations surrounding his administration’s war on drugs. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has long been investigating the former Chief Executive’s campaign.
The arrest of the former President sparked outcry from his supporters. There are also questions over the legality of the arrest. According to former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the ICC trial will proceed whether or not the arrest was legal.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa tagged the arrest of Duterte as a “betrayal to the max” by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. According to him, the President allegedly did not stand by his words and betrayed the Filipino people and the country. Malacañang defended Pres. Marcos from “betrayal” accusations over Duterte’s arrest.
Recently, Sen. Bato dela Rosa also expressed his disappointment over National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. He was the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief of Staff and later on became the chief of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the Duterte administration.
Based on a report on GMA News, Sen. dela Rosa said that he is sad over what happened. He cited the friendship of Duterte and Año as well as the former President’s trust on him.
“Malungkot ako dahil nga, ano ba naman kung, ‘diba… Ako, hindi ko siya didiktahan ko anong gawin niya, pero ano ba naman kung kaibigan mo, pinagkatiwalaan ka nung tao, ngayon nandiyan na sa sitwasyon na ganyan,” the Senator said.
According to Sen. Bato dela Rosa, even if Eduardo Año told former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte about his impending arrest, the former Chief Executive will still return to the Philippines despite the advice to him of his companions in Hong Kong not to go home. Based on the report, Dela Rosa said Año could have communicated to Duterte “out of courtesy”. Meanwhile, he clarified that his disappointment is on a “personal” level and not about work.
There are speculations that Sen. Bato dela Rosa may also be issued an arrest warrant by the ICC. He was the chief of the PNP during the heightened implementation of the war on drugs. Recently, Sen. dela Rosa admitted that hiding is a possibility if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him.