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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Co counters Dela Rosa: 'There was never any mention of ICC' 

Co counters Dela Rosa: 'There was never any mention of ICC' 

Published Aug 8, 2024 12:10 pm

At A Glance

  • Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co said House Speaker Martin Romualdez never talked to Philippine National Police (PNP) Northern Luzon Police Commander Major General Romeo Caramat about making any testimonies before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

20240808_185921.jpgAko Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (left), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez never talked to Philippine National Police (PNP) Northern Luzon Police Commander Major General Romeo Caramat about making any testimonies before the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

Thus, said Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on Thursday night, Aug. 8 in response to allegations made earlier that day by staunch Rodrigo Duterte ally, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. 

"I met General Caramat twice. First, in 2023 when he was introduced to me by [ACT-CIS Party-list] Congressman Erwin Tulfo. At that time, he (Gen. Caramat) was asking for my endorsement to be Chief PNP," said Co, chairman of the powerful Committee on Appropriations in the House of Representatives. 

"The second time I met him was in the townhouse of Speaker Martin Romualdez a few months ago. When I arrived, Gen. Caramat was already there. From the conversation, I heard that he (Gen. Caramat) was willing to tell everything he knows about EJKs (extrajudicial killings) in exchange for his appointment as Chief PNP," claimed Co. 

"This was flatly rejected by Speaker Romualdez," the Ako Bicol Party-list lawmaker said. 

"First, the Speaker said appointments are based on the President’s trust and confidence; and second, he cannot endorse in exchange for some consideration. There was never any mention of testifying against anyone before the ICC," Co said. 

The ICC had implicated both former president Duterte and former PNP chief Dela Rosa in the alleged EJK spree during the previous administration's aggressive war on drugs. 

Citing "very reliable information", Dela Rosa claimed Thursday that Romualdez, Co, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Ricardo De Leon, and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, talked to police officials to implicate him and Duterte before the ICC. 

READ THIS: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/7/bato-says-house-members-asked-pnp-officials-to-testify-against-him-fprrd-for-icc

 

Dela Rosa was referring to current and former PNP officials, namely Caramat, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, former National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and former PNP Chief Intelligence Officer Eleazar Mata. 

"I never met Generals Albayalde, Leonardo and Mata," Co said. 

It was recently learned by the House Committee on Human Rights that 20,322 drug suspects were slain between July 1, 2016 and Nov. 27, 2017--roughly the first 17 months under former president Duterte. Dela Rosa was the PNP chief when this drug war was launched. 

The figure--which represents a fatality count of nearly 40 a day--is more than three times the official count of 6,200, as acknowledged by the Duterte administration for the duration of his six-year watch. 

 

Related Tags

Ronald Bato dela Rosa International Criminal Court Romeo Caramat Martin Romualdez Rodrigo Duterte zaldy co
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