Palace denies possible ICC warrant vs. Bato a diversionary tactic

Malacañang on Friday denied that it was using reports of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald ''Bato'' Dela Rosa as a diversionary tactic from the issue surrounding the death of Rustan's executive Paolo Tantoco in the US.

At a Palace press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the possible issuance of an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa was not an old issue, as the public often heard that this may be issued at any time.

''Unang-una po, iyong possible ICC arrest, hindi po ito old issue. Every now and then, may nadidinig po tayo na maaaring mailabas ang warrant of arrest at hindi rin po issue ang ICC, iyong case na pending before the ICC,'' Castro said.

(The issue of the possible ICC arrest isn't old. Now and then, we hear that the warrant will be issued. The pending case before the ICC is also not old.)

It was Dela Rosa himself who claimed that the possible ICC warrant was a diversionary tactic.

Castro stressed that the issue linking the First Lady to the death of Rustan's business executive Paolo Tantoco was raised by propagandists and obstructionists, and not the Palace. 

''At sinasabi po ay diversionary tactic? Okay, unang-una po, ang issue po patungkol sa peke na police report or altered na police report ay hindi naman po ang Malacañang ang nag-raise niyang isyu na 'yan," Castro said.

"Kailangan lamang po nating sumagot para maipakita sa taumbayan na may mga fake news peddlers, mga obstructionists, mga propagandist na gumagawa ng kuwento na kinakailangan pang mameke ng papel para lang sirain ang Unang Ginang, ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon,'' she added.

(They're calling it a diversionary tactic? The issue about the fake or altered police report didn't come from Malacañang. We just had to answer to show the people that there are fake news peddlers, obstructionists, and propagandists who fabricate stories and documents to smear the First Lady, the President, and the administration.)

She said that the Palace could answer the allegations in the police report, which Castro said as fake and altered. 

Castro has branded as "a huge lie" the portion of a Beverly Hills Police Department report that was posted on Facebook. –NB, GMA Integrated News