DOJ Speaks on Reported Arrest Warrant vs. Sen. Bato dela Rosa Issued by ICC
BATO DELA ROSA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted that surrendering the Senator to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is faster than extradition.
Amid the Filipinos monitoring the entry of Typhoon Uwan to the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the ICC allegedly released an arrest warrant against Sen. dela Rosa. The former Philippine National Police Chief has always been vocal that he is allegedly the next person that the foreign court wants to arrest for the investigation of the Duterte drug war.
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested and sent to The Hague, Netherlands last March 11. He is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecutors.
Following Duterte’s arrest and continued detention under the custody of the ICC, Sen. Bato dela Rosa initially claimed that he is willing to join the “old man” in his ICC detention. He even wants to take care of the former President.
However, shortly after he made the claim, the Senator also admitted that he will seek all legal remedies to evade the arrest. Later on, he also admitted that hiding is one of the options he might consider and he will seek the protection that the Senate can afford him as an institution. Then, the Senate chief was Sen. Chiz Escudero. The top post in the chamber is now with Sen. Tito Sotto.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the information about the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa was relayed to him by the acting Secretary of Justice. According to him, they still have to verify it.
The lawyer of Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed that they have yet to verify if there is really an arrest warrant against the former PNP Chief turned Senator. Meanwhile, if there is indeed an arrest warrant, they hope that the government will uphold the rule of law and ensure “due process”.
Recently, DOJ spoke on the “options” in case the ICC has released an arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Justice chief state counsel Dennis Chan admitted that surrendering the Senator remains an option aside from the longer process of extradition.
“To close the door on one option and just focus entirely on extradition is limiting the state’s discretion,” Chan expressed.
Based on the report, when asked if surrendering Sen. Bato dela Rosa to the ICC will be a faster process, Chan admitted that the extradition may take months, thus, surrendering the former PNP Chief would be faster.
“We are looking at possibly months, whereas kung surrender very, definitely shorter ang process,” Chan said.
According to Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, in case there is an ICC arrest warrant, the country is allegedly inclined to comply with the request. Previously, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto spoke on the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa.