Bato: ICC investigators in PH forcing ex-PNP execs to testify vs. me, Duterte

Reelected Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Friday that investigators from the International Criminal Court (ICC) are currently in the Philippines to force former officials of the Philippine National Police to execute an affidavit against him and detained former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The lawmaker, who was the PNP chief during the implementation of the war on drugs, revealed this as he questioned the sincerity of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on his openness to reconciliation with the Duterte family.

“Kung sinsero talaga siya sa kanyang sinasabi, ang unang-una niyang gawin is palayasin niya ‘yung mga ICC investigators na andiyan ngayon sa mga hotel diyan sa Pasay na nananakot sa mga retired na mga pulis na pinipilit nila mag-sign ng affidavit na ididiin na kami ni Pangulong Duterte, otherwise, sila daw ang ididiin, ‘yung mga pulis na pinagtatawag nila,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa, who won another term in the Senate under the Duterte-led PDP-Laban faction, said he will launch an inquiry into this matter.

“Magka-conduct kami ng hearing at ‘yung mga tao na involved diyan, ‘yung mga Pilipino na mga taksil sa ating soberanya ay mananagot ‘yan,” the Mindanaoan senator said.

“Kilala namin ‘yung mga tao na sangkot diyan na sige patawag ng mga pulis at pagdating doon sa hotel, tinatakot ‘yung mga pulis natin. ... na kung hindi kayo mag-sign itong prepared affidavit ha, may prepared affidavit sila na pinapapirmahan ay kayo ang madidin ngayon sa kaso,” Dela Rosa said.

He added, "Kawawa nga ang mga pulis eh. The PNP should take care of its people."

A retired PNP official himself, Dela Rosa also slammed the treatment of the retired PNP officials.

“Porke’t retired na, powerless na, wala na sa organisasyon eh gaganunin na lang ninyo? Hindi ninyo na kino-consider ‘yung kanyang serbisyo, ‘yung buhay niya na kanyang dinedicate diyan sa Philippine National Police? Porke ngayong retired na, tataku-takutin na lang ninyo na kung hindi kayo mag-sign sa affidavit ay damay kayo sa kaso?” Dela Rosa quipped.

He then questioned the Marcos administration’s insistence that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC over the Philippines.

“Sabi nila walang jurisdiction pero ngayon ang daming mga pulis na pinapatawag do’n sa hotel diyan sa Pasay para kausapin ng mga investigator ng ICC. So anong ibig sabihin niyan?” Dela Rosa said.

“Walang sinseridad ‘yan kung gano’n. Ang pinakaunang gawin ni Pangulong Marcos dapat, palayasin niya ‘yan, i-deport niya ‘yang mga ICC investigators na ‘yan na andito ngayon na nananakot sa ating mga kapulisan na magtestigo! ‘Yan ang dapat niyang gawin kung siya ay sinsero sa kanyang reconciliation na hinahangad,” he added.

Dela Rosa, who earlier tagged himself as the number two accused in the ICC case against Duterte, already questioned the arrest of the former President before the Supreme Court.

In their petition, Dela Rosa and Duterte challenged the administration’s move to facilitate the arrest of the former President, as well as the jurisdiction of the ICC over the Philippines, considering that the country already withdrew from Rome Statute. —With JP Soriano/AOL, GMA Integrated News