Bato on possible ICC warrant: ‘I’m ready’

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday said he is prepared in case the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant of arrest against him in relation to the war on drugs case of former president Rodrigo Duterte.  

“I am ready,” Dela Rosa curtly told reporters when asked if he is worried about the possibility that the ICC will issue an arrest warrant against him. 

The name “Dela Rosa,” referred to as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), was mentioned in the public redacted version posted on the ICC website of the prosecution’s pre-confirmation brief on the crimes of humanity charges against Duterte before the Netherlands-based tribunal.

Dela Rosa was the first PNP chief during the Duterte administration and was the lead implementer of the war on drugs that reportedly led to at least 6,000 deaths based on government records. Human rights groups claim those killed could reach up to 30,000. 

Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11, based on a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC. He is currently detained in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration's drug war. 

The ICC earlier disclosed the criminal charges Rodrigo Duterte is facing before the tribunal involving 49 incidents of murder and attempted murder in his war on drugs as crimes against humanity when he was mayor of Davao City and as president of the Philippines.

Welfare check

During the plenary session, Dela Rosa also became emotional when he delivered a privilege speech as he lamented the situation of Duterte while detained in The Hague in the Netherlands. 

He also condemned the welfare check conducted by the officials from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague on Duterte, as raised earlier by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. 

“Anong klaseng welfare kaya ang kanilang sinisiguro, at kaninong welfare? Bold of them to assume that they are in any position to look into his well-being, when in the very first place, securing his well-being should have meant utmost respect for his person, as well as refusal to surrender him to a foreign court. Not because he was the 16th President of the Republic, but perhaps more importantly, because he is a Filipino,” the senator said. 

“More to the point, what was the interview for? Paano kaya nila pakikinabangan at gagamitin ang findings nila tungkol sa welfare niya? Para saan? Sapilitan nyo na ngang ipinadampot sa mga dayuhan, pupuntahan nyo pa sa kulungan nang wala man lang abiso sa pamilya? Isn’t that adding insult to injury? Can’t you, just for a while, cut the old man some slack? Mamahinga naman kayo mula sa pagdaragdag ng sama ng loob kay Tatay Digong,” he added. 

(“What kind of welfare are they trying to ascertain and whose? Bold of them to assume that they are in any position to look into his well-being, when in the very first place, securing his well-being should have meant utmost respect for his person, as well as refusal to surrender him to a foreign court. Not because he was the 16th President of the Republic, but perhaps more importantly, because he is a Filipino.

More to the point, what was the interview for? How can they benefit and use the findings regarding his welfare? What are these for? You already had him forcibly seized for foreigners, you will visit him in prison without informing his family? Isn’t that adding insult to injury? Can’t you, just for a while, cut the old man some slack? Take a break from adding to the resentment of Father Digong.)

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday stressed that her father does not need the Philippine government, through the embassy, to visit him and their family will be the ones to take care of him.

In response, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the welfare check was in line with the embassy’s functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and relevant Philippine laws to protect the welfare of all Filipinos.

“This is a duty of all Philippine Foreign Service Posts and is no different from what the DFA does for other Filipino citizens who are in detention abroad,” the DFA said in a statement.

Other senators who are allies of the Duterte family also aired concerns during the plenary regarding the embassy’s welfare check on the former president while in detention. 

“This action, whether lacking transparency and coordination with the immediate family members or for whatever reason, may undermine the integrity of our diplomatic services,” Senator Bong Go said in his manifestation. 

Senator Rodante Marcoleta also raised concerns that the welfare checks might have been done only to check Duterte’s health, particularly his alleged cognitive impairment. 

“Tama po. Dahil ano ba ang diperensya between a senator of the Republic of the Philippines at saka ang mga opisyales ng embahada ng Pilipinas doon sa The Hague? Bakit sila pinagbigyan tapos ikaw hindi? I'm quite questioning the standards of the ICC as far as visitation rights is concerned,” Dela Rosa answered. 

(That’s correct. What is the difference between a senator of the Republic of the Philippines and Philippine Embassy officials at The Hague? Why were they permitted but we were not? I'm quite questioning the standards of the ICC as far as visitation rights is concerned.) 

The former president’s defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman earlier told the ICC that the older Duterte is unable to recall events, places, timing, or even members of his close family. 

The ICC postponed the hearing on the confirmation charges against Duterte scheduled on September 23, citing the defense's statement that he was “not fit to stand trial.” —RF, GMA Integrated News