Lacson offers to advise Dela Rosa if ICC issues arrest warrant

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday said he is ready to provide guidance to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa if the International Criminal Court (ICC) moves to issue a warrant of arrest against him.

Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief like dela Rosa, said he wanted to provide “moral support” following Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s claim over the weekend that the ICC has already issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa.

Both the ICC and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have yet to confirm Remulla's claim.

“I hope we can talk just to give him some legal advice, hindi para magtago, kundi para (not to hide but to know) how to go about facing criminal charges,” Lacson said.

“I think he knows it naman eh kasi galing siya sa PNP. But my own personal experience or experiences gusto ko ibahagi sa kanya, not for anything but within the bounds of the law and rules ng International Criminal Court,” he added.

(I think he knows it already because he is from the PNP. But I want to share my own personal experiences with him, not for anything but within the bounds of the law and rules of the International Criminal Court.)

To recall, Lacson left the country in 2010, two days before being charged with double murder for his alleged involvement in the killings of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Lacson said he flew out of the Philippines because he felt unsafe and feared being “politically harassed” under the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He returned in March 2011 after hiding for more than a year.

Asked about the possibility of dela Rosa hiding, Lacson quipped: “Hindi pa naman siya naka-decide kung magtatago eh. Kung mag-decide siya magtago edi tuturuan ko siya paano magtago. Joke lang.”
(He hasn't decided yet if he's going to hide. If he decides to hide, I'll teach him how to hide. Joke.)

“Anyway, that’s for law enforcement authorities to look into. It’s his choice,” he added.

Lacson explained that the situation would differ if dela Rosa decides to hide because his case would fall under an international court.

“In my case, kasi local courts applicable ‘yung Tuliao vs Miranda. In essence, sinasabi doon even if the respondent is not under the legal jurisdiction of the courts, pwede pa rin mag-file ng mga pleadings,” Lacson said.

(In my case, since it’s a local court, the Tuliao vs Miranda ruling applies. It says that even if the respondent is not under the court’s jurisdiction, pleadings can still be filed.

He is currently detained in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity for alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration’s drug war. —MCG, GMA Integrated News