Palace hits Robin for urging Bato not to surrender to foreign power

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Wednesday hit Senator Robin Padilla after the latter had urged Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to “never surrender to the foreign power” amid reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against the former top cop.

''Ang mensaheng ganiyan ay nagpapakita lang ng mga taong ayaw sumunod sa batas. Kapag po naman may valid warrant of arrest alam natin kung anong dapat gawin. Hindi po dapat ina-advise na magtago at hayaang pulis na lamang ang humanap sa kanila dahil trabaho nila ito,'' Castro said. 

(That kind of message shows people who do not want to obey the law. If there's a valid warrant of arrest, we know what to do. We should not advise people to hide and let us allow cops to locate them because that's their job.)

''Mas magandang ibigay natin na advice ay sumunod sa batas. At kung payo natin kay Senator Bato, hindi po ako ang kaniyang lawyer,'' she added. 

(The proper advice is to follow the law. And if asked for our advice to Senator Bato, I am not his lawyer.) 

Padilla, a known ally of dela Rosa, said he has not spoken to his colleague since the latter stopped attending Senate plenary sessions on November 11.

The actor turned politician seemed to justify why Dela Rosa has not reported for work at the Senate despite the lack of confirmation that a warrant for his arrest was already issued.

Dela Rosa’s absence from the Senate began after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ''Boying'' Remulla said the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him over the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, was the main implementer of the campaign against illegal drugs during the previous administration.

There is no confirmation yet on the reported arrest warrant against dela Rosa. —RF, GMA Integrated News