‘Betrayed’ Bato hits Marcos’ ‘flimsy alibi’ on Duterte arrest

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday slammed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s explanation on allowing the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Describing Marcos’ statements as a “flimsy alibi” in a phone interview, Dela Rosa argued the President has the power to reject cooperation with the International Police Criminal Organization (Interpol) if the matter is related with the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

“That’s a very flimsy alibi for me. That only goes to show na talagang sila ay interesado na i-commit si [former president] Duterte doon sa ICC,” the senator said. 

“As a President, you can reject outright… ‘At this time ‘di namin kayo pagbigyan kasi we do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC sa aming bansa.’ Maintindihan naman ‘yan ng Interpol e pero mas interesado pa sila na i-turnover agad,” he went on.

(‘At this time we could not give in to their request because we do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC in our country.’ Interpol can understand that but they are more interested in turning him over immediately.”)

Dela Rosa, who filed a petition before the Supreme Court to question Duterte’s arrest, said that the former president should have been presented to the local courts before he was flown to The Hague for his trial. 

“‘Di man lang iprinesent sa local courts natin yung inaresto nila. Dineretso nila agad byinahe, masaydo silang atat na atat. Then it goes to show na sila talaga ay interesado na mahuli,” he said. 

(“He was not even presented before our local courts after his arrest. They immediately took him away, they were in a hurry. Then it goes to show they really want to arrest him.”)  

Dela Rosa also hit the Marcos administration and said “this government is so oppressive.” 

Asked if he has a message to Marcos, the senator said he felt "betrayed."

He recalled their conversation in Malacañang where the President supposedly assured him that he will never cooperate with the ICC as the international tribunal might also pursue cases against his own family. 

“Very vivid pa sa aking memory when he told me, nung nag usap kami sa Malacañang, na never siyang magcooperate sa ICC. Talagang sinabi niya sa akin, ‘Hinding hindi ako magko-cooperate sa ICC.’ Sinabi niya sa akin noon, ‘Wag kang mag alala, hinding-hindi ako mag-cooperate sa ICC dahil after ninyo, who’s next? Baka kami na naman.’ Yan ang sabi niya sa akin,” Dela Rosa said. 

(“I have a very vivid memory when he told me, when we talked in Malacañang, that he would never cooperate with the ICC. He actually told me, I will never cooperate with the ICC.’ That’s what he said, ‘Don’t worry, I will never cooperate with the ICC because after you, who’s next? It might be us.’ That is what he told me,” Dela Rosa said. 

“Feeling betrayed. Betrayal to the max,” the senator said. 

GMA News Online sought Palace’s comment on Dela Rosa’s remarks, but they have yet to respond as of posting time. 

Dela Rosa, who earlier described himself as the number two accused in the ICC investigation into Duterte’s drug war, served as the chief of the Philippine National Police when the former president launched his campaign against illegal drugs. 

The plane carrying Duterte departed the Philippines on Tuesday evening heading to The Hague in the Netherlands. 

The plane arrived in Dubai for a layover early Wednesday. —RF, GMA Integrated News