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'Atat na atat kayo makulong ako,' reelected Bato blurts out when asked about The Hague

Philippines | National

'Atat na atat kayo makulong ako,' reelected Bato blurts out when asked about The Hague

By Joseph Pedrajas

"Atat na atat kayo makulong ako doon ah (You're really in a hurry to have me jailed there)."

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa gave this tongue-in-cheek response to reporters during his proclamation Saturday, May 17 after securing a fresh six-year term in the upper chamber.

Among the questions that the journalists asked Dela Rosa during the merry occasion was when he would follow through on his earlier statement that he would visit former president Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague in the Netherlands.

Duterte is being detained there for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs. Dela Rosa was the initial implementor of this campaign, in his past capacity as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

After giving his amusing reaction, Dela Rosa confirmed that he still planned on going to The Hague.

"Mag-apply ako ng Schengen Visa. At kung bibgyan ako, tanungin ko si [former Executive Secretary Salvador] Medialdea kung okay ba na pupunta ako doon (I will apply for a Schengen Visa. And if granted, I will ask Medialdea if it's okay for me to go there)," Dela Rosa said.

It can be recalled that Dela Rosa went out of the public eye right after Duterte's shocking arrest in the Philippines by the International Police (Interpol) on March 11. This was right in the middle of the campaign period for the polls.

The senator is believed to be a co-perpetrator in the case of crimes against humanity filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is based at The Hague.

Dela Rosa said he has not heard about the possible issuance of an arrest warrant . But if there's already one, then he could face the same fate that befell his former boss Duterte.

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