‘I won’t surrender if ICC issues arrest warrant’ - Bato

Senator and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa told reporters on Wednesday that he won’t surrender if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for him.

In a phone patch interview, dela Rosa said that he won’t surrender if he “can’t see any justice in the country.

“Well, kung wala tayong makita na na hustisya dito sa ating bansa, bakit ka susuko? 'Di ba?” he told reporters.

The once top implementer of Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ is also considering hiding aside from seeking protection from the Senate, on which Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero said on March 17.

“Kasama 'yan, kasama 'yan. Kasama 'yan sa courses of action natin,” he added.

The senator thanked Escudero for allowing him to stay in the Senate until all of his legal remedies are exhausted.

“I thank the senate president that he's willing to protect me while I am still a senator of this Republic. It shows that the Senate, as an institution, stands for what is right,” dela Rosa said.

The former PNP chief added that he would not resist arrest.

“How will you fight against the Philippine National Police? I know the power, the might of the Philippine National Police because I’ve been the chief of the PNP, I know how to do it. So why fight? It’s useless if you fight back,” dela Rosa said.

He noted that he won’t stay in the Senate for long and he will find different courses of action.

“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na forever akong mag-standby dyan. So, meron pa ring ah kwan, meron pa, hanap pa rin tayong ibang courses of action na pwedeng gawin,” the lawmaker told media.

His statement of not surrendering contradicts what he said on March 12 that he is ready to join Duterte at The Hague to take care of him.

Dela Rosa was a PNP Chief during the Duterte administration, he implemented the former president’s war on drugs – the campaign under investigation by the ICC over alleged human rights violations.

The lawmaker has been identified by the ICC as one of the nine co-perpetrators in the arrest warrant served against Duterte.

According to government records, at least 6,000 drug suspects were killed in police operations during Duterte’s war on drugs while human rights groups report as high as 30,000.

‘Castro strikes back’

In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro slammed dela Rosa’s remarks, saying it as ‘puzzling’ because a former PNP chief prefers to hide from an arrest warrant.

“Nakakapagtaka lamang po na siya ay dati pang PNP chief, 'yan po ba ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig sa taumbayan na kapag may warrant of arrest ay dapat magtago? Hindi po talaga tayo magtataka na natagalang sumuko or nahuli ang dating... si Pastor Quiboloy,” Castro said.

The press officer added that they [the Palace] don’t agree with his thinking and actions.

'”Well, anyway sabi po natin hindi po natin sana... hindi natin sinasangayunan ang ganoong klaseng paniniwala at kanyang nais gawin,” she told the media.

Castro explained that it will not be good for the public when one of the country’s leaders does not want to face a case or complaint.

“Hindi po ito makakabuti sa mga kababayan natin na mismong lider natin ay hindi haharapin ang anumang kaso o complaint na naisampa o maisasampa laban sa kanya,” she said.

The palace press officer noted that the Philippine government will work with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in case an arrest warrant is issued against dela Rosa.

“Ganoon pa rin po ang ating gagawin, makikipag-coordinate po tayo sa Interpol at maaari pa rin po nating gamitin ang sinasabi sa batas, ang RA 9851,” Castro told the media.

Section 17 of the Republic Act no. 9851 or Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law states that in the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties. 

The ICC launched an investigation on drug killings under Duterte from November 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of Davao City, to March 16, 2018, as possible crimes against humanity. 

The Philippines submitted its Notice of Withdrawal from the ICC on March 16, 2018.