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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'I should be ready,' says Bato dela Rosa as PBBM mulls PH's return to ICC

'I should be ready,' says Bato dela Rosa as PBBM mulls PH's return to ICC

Published Nov 24, 2023 09:09 am

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Friday, November 24 said he believes he needs to be ready “for any eventuality” to face a possible probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

 

Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police (PNP) and chief implementer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, said this after he was asked about President Marcos’ disclosure that the Philippine government is studying the possibility of returning under the ICC fold. 

 

The senator, along with Duterte, is among the personalities the ICC intends to investigate after his name is mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint filed before the international body. 

 

“I feel that I should be ready for any eventuality because the political situation in the Philippines  is very fluid, so I have to be ready,” Dela Rosa told reporters at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF). 

 

Nevertheless, the lawmaker said he would respect the President’s decision since he is the chief architect of foreign policy, “so it is within his discretion” whether to allow the entry of the ICC in the Philippines. 

 

“As I said I am ready to face Filipio courts. Im willing to be tried by the Filipino courts. But by a foreign body I’m not willing,” he pointed out.

 

“It is not an indicator na lalayasan ko kayo. Baka sabihin nyo sisibat na si Bato. Hindi ako llalayas. Harapin ko yan. Pag sinabi ng ating korte harapin mo yan dito ka samen humarap then hahaharapin ko yan (It’s not an indicator that I will flee. You might say Bato is ready to bolt. I will not fly. I will face that. When our courts specifically tells me to face that case, I will face it),” Dela Rosa stressed. 

 

Asked if he is surprised that the President backpedalled from his earlier statements against the ICC, Dela Rosa said it isn’t only him that was surprised.

 

“If the President says categorically that he is allowing ICC to come in and make the investigation then that’s backpedalling. But when he says just studying maybe there are a lot of possibilities when he says study,” the legislator said. 

 

Dela Rosa said he will not fight the government in the eventuality he formally faces the charges. 

 

“It’s useless fighting the government. Hindi ako lalaban sa gobyerno (I will not fight the government),” he said. 

 

Related Tags

Marcos administration International Criminal Court (ICC) Sen. Ronald Bato dela Rosa PBBM War on drugs
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