Padilla envies Bato dela Rosa for being 'wanted' by ICC, won't ask him to surrender

Senator Robin Padilla said Friday that he envies Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is currently in hiding, for being wanted by a foreign institution, referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Dela Rosa has a pending arrest warrant from the ICC in relation to the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte, during which Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Message ko kay kumpare ko? Siguro gusto ko malaman mo naiinggit ako sa’yo. ‘Yun lang, naiinggit ako… Aba eh dayuhan ang naghahanap sa kaniya, eh sa akin...,” Padilla told reporters.

(My message to him? I guess I want you to know that I envy you. That's all—I envy you… Why? A foreign institution is looking for him, while as for me...)

“Ganito lang ‘yan, bigyan ko kayo ng ano. Nung binitay si [Macario] Sakay, masarap ang pakiramdam ni Sakay kasi Amerikano ang nagpabitay sa kaniya. Si Bonifacio, nung pinatay si Bonifacio, masama ang loob ni Bonifacio kasi kapwa niya Pilipino. Namnamin ninyo na lang ‘yung sinabi ko,” he added.

(It’s like this— when Sakay was executed, he felt proud because it was the Americans who had him executed. But when Bonifacio was killed, he felt betrayed because it was done by his fellow Filipinos. Just reflect on what I said.)

Padilla arrived at the Department of Justice on Friday to personally attend the preliminary investigation into the obstruction of justice complaint filed against him. The charge stems from his involvement in escorting Dela Rosa out of the Senate premises in May, at a time when the latter was already facing an ICC arrest warrant.

The PNP has formed a dedicated task force to locate Dela Rosa. Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has offered a P50-million bounty for anyone who can provide information leading to the senator's capture.

Since then, law enforcement agencies have repeatedly urged Dela Rosa to surrender.

However, Padilla said he will not call on his fellow senator to surrender to the ICC, citing the absence of a local court-issued arrest warrant.

“Sumuko kanino, sa dayuhan? Ay hindi… Kahit naman ako kung ICC ‘to hindi ako susuko. Bakit ako susuko don? Right 'yan ni Bato. Right niya ’yan, wala naman akong nakitang warrant of arrest na local. Walang court na humahanap sa kaniya, dayuhan to. Hay nako uminit ang ulo ko ah.”

(Surrender to whom? To a foreigner? Absolutely not… Even if it were me, if it’s the ICC, I wouldn't surrender either. Why would I surrender to them? That is Bato's right. That’s his right, and I haven't seen any local arrest warrant anyway. No local court is looking for him—it's a foreign entity. Oh, my goodness, this makes my blood boil.) —AOL, GMA News