DESPITE needing the much-needed support of OFWs in Hong Kong, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa opted to skip the PDP-Laban’s visit to Filipino migrant workers to prepare the Supreme Court petition that sought to block former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.
“Hindi kami magkasama sa Hong Kong. Di ba naiwan ako dito? All I did was ako ang tinask nila mag-asikaso sa legal. Kinoordinate ko ‘yung akung lawyer at tyaka ‘yung lawyers ni PRRD to come up with a petition for certiorari and prohibition,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters.
“So inayos namin nang husto ‘yon. Na-file namin, hoping ako na makakuha kami ng positive results from the Supreme Court,” he added.
According to Dela Rosa, he received some intelligence information on the possible implementation of warrants of arrest from the International Criminal Court against him and Duterte the night before his scheduled flight, but the former chief executive and other candidates were already in Hongkong by then.
The former Philippine National Police-turned-senator then slammed the authorities for failing to present Duterte in a local court before flying him out of the Philippines.
“Alam mo, mas excited pa, mas interesado pa ‘yung Philippine government na mahuli si President Duterte kaysa ICC at saka ‘yung sinsabi nilang INTERPOL,” the Mindanaoan lawmaker said.
“Isipin mo hindi man lang binigyan ng respeto ‘yung ating mga courts ‘no. Supposed to be kung talagang hinuli nila, dapat i-present muna nila sa court bago nila dalhin don sa ibang lugar, ibang bansa,” he added.
“This government is so oppressive.”
Dela Rosa also expressed that he felt betrayed by the Marcos administration as he noted the previous commitments of the president that he won’t cooperate with the ICC.
“Betrayal to the max! Very vivid pa sa aking memory when he told me, nu’ng nag-usap kami sa Malacañang na never siyang mag-cooperate sa ICC,” Dela Rosa said, referring to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Talagang sinabi niya sa akin, ‘Hinding-hindi ako mag-cooperate sa ICC… Huwag kang mag-alala hinding-hindi ako mag-cooperate sa ICC dahil after niyo, who’s next? Baka kami na naman.’ ‘Yan ang sabi niya sa akin,” he said.
For Dela Rosa, Marcos’ explanation on authorizing Duterte’s arrest is a “flimsy alibi,” emphasizing that the chief executive could explicitly tell the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) that he won’t honor any orders from the ICC.
“As a president, you can reject outright [and say] ‘Sorry we have commitment sa inyo, pero this time, hindi namin kayo pwedeng mapagbigyan dahil we do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC sa aming bansa.’ Maintindihan naman ‘yan ng INTERPOL,” the former PNP chief said.
“Pero mas interesado pa sila na i-turnover kaagad…Diniretso kaagad nila biniyahe, masyadong atat na atat…Huwag niyong gawing excuse ‘yung INTERPOL na ‘yan. Napakababaw niyan,” he quipped.
On Tuesday, Duterte and Dela Rosa filed a petition before the Supreme Court, asking the high tribunal to permanently prohibit the Philippine government from cooperating with the ICC.
Dela Rosa was Duterte’s chief implementor of his war on drugs where at least 1.6 million drug users surrendered to the government.
The reelectionist senator expressed no regrets on leading Duterte’s drug war, believing that this is the best way to eliminate illegal narcotics which cause the prevalence of crimes in the country.
