NBI appeals to Bato dela Rosa to peacefully surrender to authorities

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday appealed to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to surrender to authorities in view of the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Asked for comment to dela Rosa's statement on Wednesday that he will not heed the call of minority senators to surrender, NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said: Well, pananaw po niya 'yun na personal. Pero siya naman nanggaling sa law enforcement at naririnig din natin siguro siya na sasabihin du'n sa kanyang mga subject na huhulihin na may warrant of arrest ay kung maaari, nakikiusap ako na payapa ka nang sumuko para wala nang kaguluhan, wala nang habulan na mangyayari para harapin 'yung pananagutan sa batas."

(Well, that is his personal view. But he came from law enforcement, and we may probably have heard him say to the subjects with warrant of arrest that if possible, I appeal to you to peacefully surrender so there is no more chaos, no more chasing, and so you can face your responsibility under the law.)

"Kasi isa 'yang mandato galing sa competent court, 'yung warrant of arrest na kailangan nating respetuhin," Matibag said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(Because the warrant of arrest is a mandate from a competent court that we have to respect.)

"Ngayon kung hindi siya susuko, mangyayari talaga 'yan. Merong habulan na mangyayari pa rin lagi. Kasi 'yun ang gawain ng law enforcement – to enforce the warrant of arrest. Otherwise kapag hindi natin nagagawa 'yung ganyan nating mga tungkulin, there will be a breakdown of law and order," he said.

(Now, if he will not surrender, that will really happen. There will always be chasing. Because that is what law enforcement does – to enforce the warrant of arrest. Otherwise, if we do not do our duty, there will be a breakdown of law and order.)

"Siya naman po nanggaling sa law enforcement. To avoid all these things, mas mabuti siguro na sumuko siya sa awtoridad para magawa natin 'yung tamang proseso at hindi na rin nagkakagulo at marami pang nai-involve na mga tao," Matibag added.

(He is from law enforcement. To avoid all these things, it would be better if he surrenders to authorities so we can do the right process and there won't be any chaos and not many individuals will be involved.)

NBI agents attempted to serve the ICC arrest warrant on dela Rosa when he arrived at the Senate on Monday afternoon.

However, the agents failed to serve the warrant as dela Rosa ran toward the session hall and was later placed under the protective custody of the Senate.

'Live' warrant

Matibag said no NBI agents are deployed to the Senate on Wednesday, where dela Rosa has sought refuge since Monday.

"Sa ngayon wala kaming mga naka-deploy na ahente roon. Ang alam ko meron du'n mga PNP (Philippine National Police) to maintain peace and order," he said.

(For now, we do not have agents deployed there. From what I know, there are PNP [personnel] to maintain peace and order.)

"Du'n po sa ganang warrant, live po 'yon. Buhay po 'yung warrant pero sa ngayon po ang direction muna namin,
temporarily we are not executing or enforcing the warrant of arrest," Matibag said.

(With regards to the warrant, that is live. But our direction for now is temporarily we are not executing or enforcing the warrant of arrest.)

Dela Rosa has said that since November when he was not seen in public after word of an ICC arrest warrant has been issued, he would go through checkpoints without disguising himself.

"Pero tingnan niyo, 'yung sinasabi niyang ganyan is parang panunuya pa sa ating law enforcement at saka sa law and order. Hindi magandang gawain 'yan na parang prino-promote mo pa ngayon na labanan natin 'yung ating law enforcement at gobyerno na rin because 'yung police powers is one of the inherent powers of the government," Matibag said.

Coordination with OSAA

The NBI chief said they coordinated with the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) of the Senate on Monday to allow their agents to enter the premises.

"Unang una, hindi naman kami makakapasok sa grounds ng Senate, sa premises ng Senate kung walang coordination sa security group ng Senado. So meron kaming koordinasyon na malinaw," Matibag said.

Regarding the chasing of dela Rosa as seen on video, Matibag said the first three or four individuals seen behind the senator were members of his staff.

"Sa video na yan, makikita niyo maraming sumusunod pero ang mas malapit na nakasunod sa kanya na aboiut 3 or 4 individuals na nakasunod sa kanya, staff niya yan. Nakita niyo may dala-dala pang maleta hindi po ba. Hindi lang natin alam kung ano ang laman ng maleta pero I suppose damit yan dahil magka-camp out na nga siya doon sa Senado," the NBI chief said.

"Malayo yung agent natin, mga 3 or 4 meters away pa. So humahabol sa kanya," he added.

Matibag said based on the report he received, there was no wrestling, pushing, or jostling during the incident.

"Sa report sa akin, wala po. Kung meron yan di sana lumabas na rin sa CCTV. Ang nakita lang natin sa CCTV, walang wrestling, track and field lang ang nakita natin. Habulan lang po. Ang hindi naipakita diyan yung tinackle ni Senator Bato yung aming babaeng ahente na kasama dun sa nag-e-enforce ng warrant eh... Tinackle niya. Tinulak niya. Eh malaki siya. Yun ang nangyari," he said.

"Kaya sana ire-request naming, ilabas natin yung buong CCTV footages mula nung pumasok siya sa building hanggang nakatakbo siya," he said. —KG, GMA News