A House leader on Friday, March 14, encouraged Senator Bato Dela Rosa to just join former president Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague for the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s investigation, instead of hiding at the Senate.

Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin said Dela Rosa should just focus on helping his former boss prepare for a strong legal defense and not use up his time looking for an institutional refuge.

While it is Dela Rosa's right to ask for institutional protection, Garin said he must still face the charges against him.

She stressed that the senator, being a key figure during Duterte's administration, is in a position to provide crucial information for Duterte’s defense.

“Sa pananaw ko, ang pinakamagandang gawin ngayon ni Senator Bato dela Rosa ay tulungan niya ang depensa ng dating Pangulo dahil mas marami siya siyempreng alam kaysa sa atin dahil siya ay nasa gobyerno at nasa PNP nung panahon na ’yun (In my view, the best thing that Senator Bato dela Rosa can do now is to help with the defense of the former president since he knows more than due to his part in the government and the PNP during that time). So that should be his thrust,” she said.

Dela Rosa, who was the architect of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs as a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, had requested for protection from Senate President Chiz Escudero for protection should there be an ICC arrest warrant against him.

Garin believed the Senate could not provide protection to Dela Rosa because of the break in sessions.

“Well, if Congress is in session, siyempre pwede siyang… I am not really sure kung ito ba ay mag-aapply if it’s an ICC warrant of arrest. Kasi ang pangkaraniwan, kapag ikaw ay may kaso at nasa sesyon ang Kongreso, pwede ngang hindi hulihin (he can seek protection, although I am not sure if it can be applied to the ICC arrest warrant. Typically, a lawmaker cannot be arrested if the Congress is on session),” she said.

Garin said the best thing to do for Dela Rosa is to assist Duterte in legal proceedings rather than stir political controversy.

“This is also the best time for him to help the former President in his defense against the cases na pinaratang nga sa kanya (the charges against him),” she said.