Imee Marcos: Bato’s wife seeking ‘due process’ amid alleged ICC arrest order

The wife of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is appealing to the Philippine government to follow the law and observe due process amid reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has allegedly issued a warrant of arrest against him, Senator Imee Marcos said on Wednesday.

In an interview, Marcos said she has not heard a word from dela Rosa himself, but she is communicating with his wife Nancy.

“Sanay na sanay ‘yan eh, talagang asawa ng pulis. Pero ganun pa man, takot na takot at kabang-kaba. Nananawagan na tulungan sana sila, na kahit papaano may due process, may hustisya, may soberanya ng Pilipinas,” she said. 

(She’s used to this because she is the wife of a police officer. But even so, she's very scared and anxious. She's calling for help, asking that there’ll somehow be due process, that there’s justice, that the Philippines’s sovereignty will prevail.)

“Humihingi ng tulong sa lahat, talaga naman. At kung maaaring tulungan, sabi ko, asahan ninyo, kung anong abot ng aking makakaya, tutulungan at tutulungan natin si Bato hindi para makaligtas kung siya ay may sala talaga, kundi na makatarungan ang mga proseso na gagamitin. ‘Wag itong nangyari kay Presidente [Rodrigo] Duterte maulit muli,” she added.

(She’s asking for help from everyone. I told her that I will help her husband as much as I can, not to save him if he is really guilty, but to ensure that the processes that will be followed will be just. What happened to President Duterte should not happen again.) 

It was Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla who claimed over the weekend that the ICC has already issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), however, said that no red notice from ICC has been received yet by the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC).

The Department of Justice (DOJ), meanwhile, said the Philippines will implement an arrest warrant against dela Rosa if the ICC has indeed issued it. 

Marcos also criticized Remulla for saying that there is already an arrest warrant when it has yet to be confirmed by Philippine authorities.

“Unang una, talagang isang malaking kabulastugan ang pinagsasabi na may balita na merong warrant na narinig nila na may kopya na hindi maipakita pero sinintensyahan na kung ano ang gagawin. Ano bang kalokohan ‘yan,” the senator said. 

(First of all, it is improper to say that there is a warrant which they can’t even show, but they already decided on what to do. What nonsense is that?) 

“Nililito ba tayo? Kung may warrant, ilabas. Kung walang warrant, tumahimik na kayo. Tantanan na ninyo kami. Ano ba namang pananakot na ang ginagawa niyo,” she added. 

(Are we being misled? If there’s a warrant, then bring it out in the open. If there’s no warrant, just shut up. Stop bothering us with your threats.) 

Regardless, Marcos said she has no idea about dela Rosa’s whereabouts. 

When the Senate resumed its plenary session on Tuesday, November 11, dela Rosa was among the few senators who were absent.

He was also absent during Wednesday’s ongoing plenary session.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he has no idea why dela Rosa remains absent.

“It’s not necessary for a senator to inform the leadership of their absence,” Sotto told members of the media.

Dela Rosa was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) when the war on drugs was implemented during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11 after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him.

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