Bato dela Rosa on Possible ICC Arrest Warrant: “I am ready”

Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Charges Filed vs. Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

BATO DELA ROSA – The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief-turned-Senator claimed that he is “ready” on the possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is detained under the custody of the ICC since March. He is facing an accusation of crimes against humanity over the war on drugs of his administration. Despite his arrest and detention, the former President maintained that everything that he did was for the country and the Filipino people.

The confirmation of charges hearing of former Pres. Duterte was postponed by the ICC after his lawyer claimed that he is “not fit to stand trial”. According to ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, the former President is allegedly suffering from ‘cognitive impairment’.

Kaufman claimed that the former President is allegedly unable to remember places, events, and even members of his family. According to the British-Israeli Lawyer, his client’s cognitive condition will allegedly remain static or deteriorate further even with a medical intervention.

The confirmation of charges hearing of the former President was initially set on September 23. While it was postponed, the ICC bared that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is faced with three (3) counts of murder as “crimes against humanity”. It was also found that there were names mentioned in the 78-page redacted briefer on the charges filed against the former Chief Executive.

“Dela Rosa” and “Aguirre” were mentioned in the ICC charges briefer against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. While the first names were not mentioned, it was stated that “Dela Rosa” was a PNP chief.

Sen. Bato dela Rosa was the first PNP Chief during the presidential term of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Amid the detention of his former boss, he claimed that he is the next in line on the persons that the ICC allegedly want to be investigated over the controversial war on drugs of the previous administration.

Recently, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the former PNP Chief-turned-Senator claimed that he is ready if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him. His recent remarks came after a series of changing stances on the matter.

“I am ready. I am ready,” Dela Rosa said.

Based on the report, during the Senate session, Sen. Bato dela Rosa also questioned the supposed “welfare check” on former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte inside the ICC detention facility by the PH Embassy officials which Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed. According to him, it can never be taken away from their camp to have doubts on the intent of the visit.

“Lalo na si Pangulong Duterte eh do you want to be visited by these people coming from the very government that brought you there? Gusto mong bisitahin ka ba? I don’t think so,” the Senator said.

Recently, Duterte’s former spokesman, Harry Roque, who is also in The Hague, Netherlands now claimed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has already allegedly aired his final wish before his death.