Bato believed to be in Davao; DILG can't act yet until warrant out —Remulla

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is believed to be in Davao amid reports of an alleged arrest warrant against the lawmaker from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However, Remulla pointed out that the DILG cannot take an action because it has yet to receive a formal copy of the supposed order from the ICC.

“Ang alam ko, kasi magkapitbahay kami dito sa Cavite, pero hindi na siya nauwi dito. Alam ko nasa Davao kasama ang kaniyang pamilya,” Remulla told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(That's what I know, we are neighbors here in Cavite, but he never goes home here. I know he is in Davao with his family.)

“Wala kaming magagawang aksyon dyan hanggang may actual warrant of arrest. Wala pa naman. Wala pa akong nakikita. Haka-haka lang,” he added.

(We can’t take any action until there is an actual arrest warrant. There isn’t one yet. I haven’t seen anything yet. It’s just speculation.)

Dela Rosa has yet to make any public appearance, even skipping Senate hearings and sessions, after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who is also Jonvic’s brother, said that the ICC has reportedly issued a warrant against Dela Rosa. The Ombudsman also said he has an unofficial copy of the warrant.

Dela Rosa served as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the implementation of the drug war under the Duterte administration.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV previously said that Dela Rosa and four other high-ranking ex-police officials have been tagged as suspects amid the ICC probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs for a crimes against humanity case. 

Trillanes is one of the personalities who filed a case against Duterte with the ICC.

Dela Rosa’s counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, said the government has no legal basis to surrender any of its citizens to an international tribunal due to the absence of rules governing the process.—AOL, GMA Integrated News