Colmenares to Bato: Prepare defense in ICC instead of evading liability

Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares on Tuesday urged Senator Bato Dela Rosa to prepare his defense in the International Criminal Court's investigation of the bloody drug war, adding that the presidency must not be used as a shield against criminal liability.

Dela Rosa earlier said he will protect President Rodrigo Duterte and himself from the international court if he wins the presidency in Eleksyon 2022. Dela Rosa had become the "last minute" presidential candidate of PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Following Dela Rosa's statement, Colmenares said that the senator's objective behind the presidential bid "has become clear."

In addition, Colmenares said the ICC will still prosecute Duterte and Dela Rosa despite failure to cooperate.

"Let me take this opportunity to remind Sen. Dela Rosa that the ICC works under the presumption of non-cooperation of the accused. Whether or not Dela Rosa and Duterte cooperate, the ICC will find a way to investigate, prosecute and punish them," Colmenares, who is also a senatorial aspirant, said in a statement.

"The presidency or any government position should not be used as a barrier versus criminal liability. If I were Duterte or Dela Rosa, they better start preparing their defense in the ICC," he added.

GMA News Online is still reaching out to Dela Rosa to respond on the matter but has yet to receive a reply.

The ICC approved the request of its former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in conducting an investigation into the  crimes committed in the Philippines between Nov. 1, 2011, specifically, on the harsh crackdown against narcotics under the Duterte administration.

Aside from the drug war, the probe will also tackle the killings in Davao City between November 2011 to June 2016, where Duterte previously served as mayor.—LDF, GMA News