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As Bato is on his way to Senate, HRW says ICC should probe ex-PNP chief


Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday renewed its call to probe former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who ranks among the leaders in the 2019 senatorial race, for his involvement in the government's drug war.

Carlos Conde, HRW Asia Division researcher, said "Dela Rosa may still have a date with justice."

"However one views the election results, it won’t change the fact that victorious candidates implicated in 'drug war' crimes shouldn’t receive a get-out-of-jail-free card," Conde said.

"The Duterte government has shown it won’t carry out necessary investigations, but the International Criminal Court (ICC) could," Conde said.

Conde noted that even the Philippine government had withdrawn from the ICC, it can still investigate alleged crimes against humanity that occurred while Dela Rosa was the PNP chief as well as other crimes.

"Now that Dela Rosa is a policymaker, there is renewed urgency in bringing all those responsible for 'drug war' crimes to justice," he said.

Sought for comment, Dela Rosa said there had been previous Senate probes as regards the drug war. He said he would just pray that the bitterness in the hearts of the human rights group will be flushed out.

"Let us pray that the bitterness in their hearts be flushed out. Nakailang Senate investigation na hindi pa sila nagsawa?" he told GMA News Online.

As of the latest partial, official count of the National Board of Canvassers, composed of the Commission on Elections chairman and commissioners, Dela Rosa has garnered 14,529,585 votes.

The canvassed votes were from 107 electronically transmitted certificates of canvass across the country and Philippine posts abroad.

As of Thursday evening, 129 certificates of canvass have been received by the NBOC.  — with Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News

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