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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Will Dela Rosa be next for ICC? 'Only a matter of time', solons say

Will Dela Rosa be next for ICC? 'Only a matter of time', solons say

Published Mar 12, 2025 08:51 am

At A Glance

  • Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V and Assistant Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre believe that it's only a matter of time before Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa gets his day at the International Criminal Court (ICC), after what happened to former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa: No reason for Duterte to have Percy Lapid killedSenator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Senate PRIB)

Ranking House of Representatives members believe that it's only a matter of time before Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa gets his day at the International Criminal Court (ICC), after what happened to former president Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference Wednesday, March 12, Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V and Assistant Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre opined that The Hague-based ICC could seek out Dela Rosa soon.

"He's (Dela Rosa) part of the respondents of the case and it's a matter of time," Acidre said.

Acidre was referring to the crimes against humanity charge filed before Duterte in relation to his bloody war on drugs back in 2017, when the latter was still Philippine president.

The former president is now en route to The Hague after being arrested by elements of the International Police (Interpol) in Manila on the strength of an arrest warrant from the ICC.

Dela Rosa, a reelectionist in the May 12 polls, served as Duterte's first Philippine National Police (PNP) chief. He is often viewed as the initial implementer of the drug war.

Ortega echoed Acidre’s stance, and said that "It's no longer a prediction, but a spoiler."

Where is Bato?

The La Union lawmaker also addressed reports that Dela Rosa had been incommunicado, or unreachable, after it was learned that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Duterte. He wondered if the senator was doing okay.

“Siguro ako, more on okay lang ba siya kasi kung two days siyang literally missing o walang statements, of walang communication. Siguro mas importante kung masagot muna ‘yun kung nasaan siya,” Ortega said.

(As for me, maybe it's more on whether or not he's okay, because he's been literally missing or have had no statements for two days. I think it's more important to answer the question on his whereabouts first.)

He added that if Dela Rosa had not responded publicly, it must be because he is occupied with something “more important”.

“Eh wala naman akong makitang bagay na mas importante na kailangan niyang mag-react o sumagot (But I can't see anything that would be more important for him to react to or address)," so I just want to know if he is okay,” Ortega said.

Dela Rosa is supposed to be campaigning for his reelection bid under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) slate.

Acidre advised the former top cop-turned-senator to subject himself to the process of the ICC.

“I think Senator Bato, I would like to appeal to his sense of nationalism, of course his sense of public duty to submit to the rule of law...Sinumpaang tungkulin po namin ‘yan. Sana dito makita natin ang kanyang pagtupad sa kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin (That is our sworn duty. Hopefully we see how he fulfills our sworn duty with this),” the Tingog solon said.

Duterte chairs PDP-Laban.

Related Tags

International Criminal Court (ICC) matalinong boto 2025 Ronald Bato dela Rosa PDP-Laban Rodrigo Duterte
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