Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Reported ICC Arrest Warrant vs. Sen. Bato dela Rosa
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President revealed that she called Senator Bato dela Rosa amid the reported arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.
Recently, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the ICC has supposedly issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa. The Senator who was the first national police chief during the tenure of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte expects the foreign court to also investigate him.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecution team. Previously, Sen. dela Rosa had multiple change of stance on his part if the foreign court will also issue an arrest warrant against him.
Initially, the former PNP Chief who considers former Pres. Duterte as his second father claimed that he is willing to join the “old man” in The Hague and take care of him. However, shortly after, he also claimed that he will seek all legal remedies to evade arrest.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa even claimed that he will seek for the protection that the Senate can afford him as an institution. He also admitted that hiding is one of the options that he is considering if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him.
Neither the International Criminal Court (ICC) nor the Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed the issuance of an arrest warrant against the former PNP chief-turned-Senator. However, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he allegedly has a copy of the ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Recently, amid the reported ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte revealed that she called the Senator and was able to talk to his son, Rocky. Based on a report on Inquirer, the Vice President also said that she told Sen. dela Rosa to prepare for any moves of the ICC that may take as early as April of this year.
“What I told him was that his preparation should begin with choosing an international law expert, a lawyer with experience before the ICC, who can advise him on what steps he should take,” Duterte said.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said she called Sen. Bato dela Rosa and told his son, Rocky, that if the Senator is interested in getting an international lawyer, she is open to recommend one. Based on the report, she recommends a counsel based in England.
“And I told Rocky that if Senator Bato dela Rosa is interested in getting a lawyer, I can recommend one – a British counsel based in England, an international law expert,” the Vice President said.
Amid the reported ICC arrest warrant, Sen. Bato dela Rosa recently skipped the Senate plenary session.