Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday, April 26 said he sees no reason to dignify former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has communicated with former and active police officials involved in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
“I don’t want to dignify his statements. Wala naman katuturan ‘yan (It doesn’t make sense),” Dela Rosa said in an interview.
Dela Rosa pointed out the Department of Justice (DOJ) has also issued a warning that state officials and employees who would be cooperating with the ICC probe into the previous administration’s drug war could be held accountable.
“Merong latest press release yug DOJ, na accordingly, kakasuhan nila (The DOJ recently has a press release, that accordingly states they will file charges against) anybody, any government officials of any government agency that would cooperate with the ICC kung magco-conduct man ng investigation ang ICC (if ever the ICC will conduct a probe),” he pointed out.
“Kakasuhan nila ng (They will file) graft and corrupt practices. Sinong mas siga dyan na government employees, officials na mag-operate sa ICC (Who are the government employees that’ll be brave to cooperate with the ICC) because that is government policy. They are going against government policy of non-cooperation and no jurisdiction as far as ICC is concern,” he further reasoned out.
“So I don’t know kung saan ni Trillanes yung kaniyang impormasyon. Mabuti siya, hindi siya government official ngayon, hindi siya makakasuhan, pero kawawa yung mga tao na pinipilit niya mag-cooperate o merong mga kinakausap na mga tao, magkakakaso yon (I don’t know where Trillanes is getting his information. He’s better off because he isn’t a government official now. He won’t get charged, but the people whom he is forcing to cooperate or he is talking to, would be charged),” the senator lamented.
Currently, Dela Rosa said no ICC prosecutor has ever contacted him.
In response to the lawmaker’s remarks, Trillanes refuted Dela Rosa’s claims, clarifying the senator could not have been contacted by the ICC precisely because he is “one of the main suspects in the case.”
“Hindi nilapitan si Bato kasi main suspect na sya sa kaso. Maliwanag na ang ebidensya laban sa kanya (They did not approach Bato, because he is one fo the main suspects in the case. The evidences against him are clear),” Trillanes said when sought to comment.
“Pangalawa, hindi krimen ang pakikipagugnayan ng mga pulis in their personal capacity kasi sila lang as individuals ang mapapahamak kung hindi sila sasagot pagkakasangkot nila sa kaso sa ICC (Nevertheless, it’s not a crime for the policemen to participate in their personal capacity because they, as individuals, could be harmed if they refuse to respond regarding their implication in the case before the ICC),” he added.
The former senator also chided Dela Rosa for shrugging off his claims, yet issuing a lengthy response about his statements regarding the ICC probe.