Sen. Ping Lacson Speaks on Reported ICC Arrest Warrant vs. Sen. Bato dela Rosa
PING LACSON – The Senator expressed his hope to be able to talk to his colleague, Senator Bato dela Rosa, amid a reported arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed over the weekend that the ICC allegedly issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. However, his claim gained different reactions as neither the ICC nor the Department of Justice has confirmed it. The Ombudsman claimed that the information was allegedly relayed by the acting Secretary of Justice.
Following the claim of the Ombudsman, the camp of Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed they have yet to receive an independent verification that an ICC arrest warrant was released against the former Philippine National Police chief. According to his legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, they trust the Philippine government will uphold the rule of law if the foreign court has indeed issued an arrest warrant against the Senator.
Dela Rosa’s camp also called for due process. The Senator has yet to personally speak on the matter. Sen. Bato dela Rosa also skipped the recent plenary session in the Senate amid the reported ICC arrest warrant against him.
According to Senate President Tito Sotto, the chamber will not allow any senator to be arrested within the Senate premises. However, outside the premises, he stressed that it is no longer their concern.
Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson spoke on the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. Based on a report on GMA News, Lacson, a former PNP chief like dela Rosa, hopes to talk to his fellow senator.
“I hope we can talk just to give him some legal advice, hindi para magtago, kundi para how to go about facing criminal charges,” the Senate President Pro Tempore said.
Based on the report, Sen. Ping Lacson believes that Sen. Bato dela Rosa knows how to do about facing criminal charges but he wants to share his personal experiences “not for anything but within the bounds of the law and the rules” of the ICC.
Lacson faced a huge issue in 2010 when he was charged with double murder in 2010 over the death of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in 2000. He left the country in 2010 and only returned a year after.
According to the Senate President Pro Tempore, he left the Philippines because he felt unsafe. When asked about the possibility that Sen. Bato dela Rosa will hide, Sen. Ping Lacson threw a joke.
“Hindi pa naman siya naka-decide kung magtatago eh. Kung mag-decide siya magtago edi tuturuan ko siya paano magtago. Joke lang. Anyway, that’s for law enforcement authorities to look into. It’s his choice,” he said.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte revealed to calling Sen. Bato dela Rosa amid a reported ICC arrest warrant against him.