Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said on Wednesday, March 19, that if a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is issued against him, he will consider going into hiding.
This is in contrast to his earlier pronouncement that he will submit himself once the arrest warrant against him is released.
Asked in an interview if he considers going into hiding he said: "Kasama yan sa courses of action natin (That's included in our courses of action)."
"Well, kung wala tayong makita na na hustisya dito sa ating bansa, bakit ka susuko diba? Titingnan natin. Kung makakita kung makita natin may glimmer of hope na yung Supreme Court ay talagang panindigan niya yung kanyang pagiging independent. Mayroon ding ipapakitang ah magpapatayo sa Senado kung anong dapat then I will evaluate (Well, if we can't find justice in our country, why would you give up, right? Let's see. If we notice a glimmer of hope that the Supreme Court will truly uphold its independence, and if the Senate shows what needs to be done, then I will evaluate the situation)," Dela Rosa explained, on why he's opting to hide.
"As I have said, I will cross the bridge when I get there," he added.
Dela Rosa earlier said that he is ready to join former president Rodrigo Duterte at the Hague where he is to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity due to his administration’s controversial campaign against illegal drugs.
Supporters allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte have been questioning his arrest that happened on Tuesday, March 11, after Interpol received an arrest warrant from the ICC.
Duterte was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he will be facing charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the bloody anti-drug war during his administration. His confirmation of charges hearing is set for Sept. 23.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief has stated that he could have ran and hide from if he chose to.
"The Philippines is too wide for me to hide. I can run and I can use some connections to hide," he said in an interview a week ago.
The reelectionist senator even mentioned that he would submit himself and care for Duterte in The Hague.
"Mahirap man doon. Ultimo yung anak nga. Hindi makalapit. Hindi makabisita lang basta-basta yung anak na si Vice President Sara. How much more kung ako na pareho lang kaming detainee (It may be difficult there. Even the child can’t get close. The child, Vice President Sara, can’t just visit anytime. How much more so for me, since we are both detainees?)" he said.
"Paano ako makapag-demand ng time na para makasama doon o makiusap na pareho naman kaming detainee. So mukhang mahirap dahil nga sa experience ngayon nila doon, yung mga nandoon ngayon sa The Hague (How can I request some time to be with them or to argue given that we are both detainees? It seems difficult because of their current experiences there in The Hague)," he added.
At this time, he said that once he learned of the warrant of arrest, he might ask Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero not to surrender him as long as he can stay until the 19th Congress adjourns, hoping that the SC will release a TRO during that time.
Escudero already assured that institutional courtesy would be given to him in the event that the ICC issues an arrest warrant.
"Hindi ko naman sinasabi na forever akong mag-standby dyan. Hanap pa rin tayong ibang courses of action na pwedeng gawin. Yun nga lang, hinihintay lang natin yung maging desisyon ng Supreme Court kung ito ay pabor o hindi pabor sa atin, then we will make our next move kung ano maging desisyon ng Supreme Court (I'm not saying that I'll stay there forever. We should also look for other courses of action that we can take. It's just that we're waiting for the Supreme Court's decision, whether it's in our favor or not. Then we'll decide our next move based on that decision)," he said.
When asked if the only acceptable decision from the SC favors him, Dela Rosa clarified that this is not the case and stated that they would look at the basis for it.
Late afternoon on March 11, both Duterte and Dela Rosa filed a petition before the SC asking the High Court to stop the arrest of the former president. They pleaded for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO).
Last Wednesday, March 12, the SC did not issue a TRO.
The SC, however, asked the respondents in the petition filed by Duterte and Bato “to comment on the petition with prayer for TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.”