Bato dela Rosa mulls hiding, not surrendering to ICC

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday said he is considering hiding and not surrendering in the event authorities implement a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.

"Well, kung wala tayong makita na na hustisya dito sa ating bansa, bakit ka susuko? 'Di ba?" dela Rosa told reporters.

(Well, if we don't see any justice here in our country, why will you surrender? Right?)

"Kasama 'yan sa kino-consider natin. Kasama 'yan sa courses of action na pwedeng gawin," he added.

([Not surrendering] is among the things we are considering. That is among the courses of action that can be done.)

Asked also if he is thinking of hiding from authorities, he replied: "Kasama 'yan, kasama 'yan. Kasama 'yan sa courses of action natin."

(That's included, that's included. That's included in our courses of action.)

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, thanked Senate President Escudero for allowing him to stay in the Senate until all legal remedies are exhausted.

“I thank the Senate President that he's willing to protect me while I am still a Senator of this Republic. It shows that the Senate, as an institution, stands for what is right.

Dela Rosa, however, clarified that he won’t hang on to the Senate for dear life.

“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na forever akong mag-standby dyan. So, meron pa ring ah kwan, meron pa, hanap pa rin tayong ibang courses of action na pwedeng gawin,"

(I won't stay in the Senate forever. We have other courses of action.)

Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, implemented the war on drugs of then-president Rodrigo Duterte. The former president, who is facing allegations of crimes against humanity for the drug war deaths in police operations during his term, is now in the custody of the ICC, staying at a detention facility in The Hague in the Netherlands.

The ICC has identified nine of Duterte’s co-perpetrators in the arrest warrant served against Duterte, but the names of these nine were redacted. Dela Rosa's name, however, was mentioned in the same arrest warrant.

Dela Rosa said he is not sure if he can join the former President in The Hague in case he is arrested.

"Paano ako makapag-demand ng time na para makasama doon o makiusap na pareho naman kaming detainee... Mukhang mahirap dahil nga sa experience ngayon nila doon, yung mga nandoon ngayon sa the Hague," He said.

(How can I demand time to be there or plead that we are both detainees... It would be difficult based on those who are currently in the Hague.) —with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/ KG/ VAL, GMA Integrated News