Statement of Malacañang on “Diversionary Tactic” Remarks of Sen. Bato dela Rosa
Malacañang claimed talks about the possibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant against Senator Bato dela Rosa not an old issue.
Previously, speaking to Kyodo News, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin claimed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa may face a similar fate with former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him. He stressed that the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief-turned-Senator may really be arrested if the Interpol seeks assistance.
Following the claim of Bersamin, Sen. Bato dela Rosa dared the Marcos administration to arrest him, too. According to him, the government may arrest him if they allegedly want to make the same mistake again. He claimed that what was done to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is allegedly a “very big mistake”.
Dela Rosa also accused First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos of allegedly using him to divert the online attention from the death of Rustan’s executive Paolo Tantoco in the United States.
Recently, Malacañang reacted to the claim of Sen. Bato dela Rosa. Based on a report on GMA News, Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that the possible release of an ICC arrest warrant against the Senator is not an old issue.
The Malacañang officer also claimed that every now and then, there are talks about the possibility of the ICC issuing an arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. She also stressed that the alleged pending case before the ICC is not an issue.
”Unang-una po, iyong possible ICC arrest, hindi po ito old issue. Every now and then, may nadidinig po tayo na maaaring mailabas ang warrant of arrest at hindi rin po issue ang ICC, iyong case na pending before the ICC,” Castro said.
Based on the report on GMA News, Malacañang also denied the claim of Sen. Bato dela Rosa that the talks about the possible issuance of an ICC arrest warrant against him is allegedly a “diversionary tactic”.
”At sinasabi po ay diversionary tactic? Okay, unang-una po, ang issue po patungkol sa peke na police report or altered na police report ay hindi naman po ang Malacañang ang nag-raise niyang isyu na ‘yan,” Atty. Claire Castro said.
Based on the report, the Malacañang press officer stressed that the Palace just have to respond to the issues to show the public that there are “fake news peddlers”, obstructionists, and propagandists who allegedly make stories. According to her, the Palace can answer the accusations in the police report.
Previously, Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed that he will skip the 4th SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos as he does not want to be “plastic”.