Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa (Senate PRIB)
Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa is sad that he won't be able to go to trips abroad amid the looming threat of his arrest by the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC). Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier advised Dela Rosa not to go to countries that might be friendly to the ICC since he might get arrested there once the ICC issues a warrant for his arrest. The arrest threat is due to an ICC decision to go ahead with its investigation into the bloody drug war waged by former president Rodrigo Duterte and the alleged violation of human rights that took place during the campaign. Dela Rosa was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that implemented the drug war during the Duterte administration. The Philippines had earlier disengaged itself from the ICC. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the Senate would protect Dela Rosa but would not interfere should Philippine courts issue an arrest warrant on request of the ICC. For the moment, Dela Rosa told DWIZ radio that he is doing his legislative work as per his routine. He said that he has yet to discuss the ICC case with former president Duterte. Dela Rosa bared that Senator Francis ‘’Tol’’ Tolentino has advised him to "take it easy".
Tolentino had agreed to be Dela Rosa’s counsel when an inevitable trial at the Hague takes place. Asked if he is having sleepless nights since an ICC arrest was floated, Dela Rosa replied: ‘’Hindi naman, wala (No, nothing like that).’’ ‘’Yung first night lang after the announcement di ako nakatulog dahil maraming media tumatawag (It was only during the first night after the announcement was that I had difficulty sleeping because there were many journalists calling),’’he pointed out. Asked if his family was also concerned, the senator from Davao said it is normal for his family to get worried. ’’Di sila natatakot they’ve been through worst na sa aking pagkapulis (They are not afraid, they’ve been through the worst during my stint as a policeman),’’ he added.