Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Possible ICC Arrest Warrant Anew
DELA ROSA – The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator claimed that he is ready to go if the International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue an arrest warrant against him.
The Duterte drug war hooked not only the attention of the Filipino people but as well as the International Criminal Court. Last March 11, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested by the PNP and flown to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai for the transfer of his custody to the ICC.
Duterte is now detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution for more than a month now. Currently, it is Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte who is at The Hague for visits to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte amid his ICC detention. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte returned to the Philippines after setting the ICC legal team of the former President.
The next phase in the legal battle of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the confirmation of charges. It is set on September 23. His legal team is led by British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. A French lawyer, Dov Jacobs, is also part of Duterte’s legal team as an associate counsel.
Following the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the transfer of his custody, Sen. Bato dela Rosa has aired several statements on the possibility that the ICC will also issue an arrest warrant against him. The former PNP chief turned Senator called himself the number two personality in the ICC investigation of Duterte’s drug war.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa has changed his stance over the potential ICC arrest warrant multiple times. The lawmaker previously said that he is ready to join Duterte at The Hague but it was followed by a different stand that he will not allow himself to be arrested by the authorities and he considers hiding.
Previously, he asked for understanding over his change of stance saying that he needs to survive the challenge to him. The Senate assured to provide him with the protection that it can as an institution.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa is running for reelection in the May Midterm polls. Recently, at a campaign rally in Iloilo, the Senator expressed another change of stance. Based on a report on GMA News, he stressed that what is important is he was able to do what he must while he is on Earth.
“Anong magagawa ko kung ayan ang kapalaran ko? Basta ang importante, nagawa ko ang dapat gawin habang ako ay buhay dito sa mundo. Ginawa ko ‘yung war on drugs, ginawa namin ang lahat,” the Senator said.
Based on the report, Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed that he is ready to go anytime if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him. According to him, he will never step back from the legal battle.
“Kaya ako, I’m ready to go anytime. Ang buhay ko’y nakataya na, naka-kasa na. Anytime, pwede akong mamalasin dahil sa aking adbokasiya na ito. Pero never si Bato aatras sa laban na ito, I tell you,” he expressed.
Previously, Sen. Bato dela Rosa expressed a desire to visit former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague. The Senator is one of the senatorial candidates endorsed by Duterte’s PDP-Laban.