VP Sara slams calls for Bato Dela Rosa's surrender

Vice President Sara Duterte has rejected calls for Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to surrender following the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him, saying a foreign court cannot enforce such.

"Hindi iyan panawagan ng kahit sinong tao dahil ang isang warrant of arrest not issued by a Philippine court cannot be implemented in the Philippines," Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands.

(This is not a call from anyone, because an arrest warrant not issued by a Philippine court cannot be enforced in the Philippines.)

The Vice President visited his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who remains detained over his alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the killings under his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines.

Duterte's reaction stemmed from a resolution filed by five minority senators on Tuesday, urging Dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to authorities amid the ICC warrant.

Dela Rosa is currently under the protective custody of the Senate.

Under the proposed resolution, the senators said the chamber has historically “respected judicial and prosecutorial processes involving its own members and former officials.”

They cited the voluntary surrender and judicial submission of late former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the legal remedies pursued by former Senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, and the judicial recourse undertaken by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Duterte said she is saddened because some politicians prioritize personal interest over public service.

“Nalulungkot ako dahil inuuna ang personal na interes ng iba’t ibang politiko at nalulungkot ako dahil napapabayaan yung mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan ng tulong sa panahon ng paghihirap. Nakakalungkot na mula sa pagkakaisa, ay nagkawatak-watak tayo dahil sa personal na interes ng politiko,” she said.

(I am saddened that the personal interests of certain politicians are being put above the needs of our people, leaving those who most need help during difficult times neglected. It is truly disheartening that instead of standing united, we are being divided by the self-serving agendas of politicians.) —LDF, GMA News