Bato Dela Rosa appeals for 'peaceful' action from PMA cavaliers amid ICC arrest warrant

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Wednesday appealed for “peaceful” action from his fellow Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cavaliers amid the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him over his alleged links to the bloody war on drugs.

Dela Rosa made statement to clarify his pronouncement during an interview with Unang Balita, where he also sang the PMA hymn before members of the media.

“Klaruhin ko lang na ang apela ko is not an appeal for a violent action. Ang apela ko sa kanila ay peaceful action,” Dela Rosa said.

(I just want to clarify that my appeal is not for violent action. My appeal to them is for peaceful action.)

“Maipakita nila na kaming mga PMAers, sundalo, pulis, members ng uniformed agencies ay ayaw magpasakop sa dayuhan. Gusto namin manatili ang ating soberanya na di tayo didiktahan ng mga dayuhan,” he added.

(I hope they can show that we PMAers, soldiers, police officers, and members of the uniformed services do not want to submit to foreign powers. We want to preserve our sovereignty and not be dictated upon by foreigners.)

Dela Rosa, alleged to be one of the chief architects of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, is facing an ICC arrest warrant over his purported role in the anti-illegal drug campaign.

According to the ICC warrant, Dela Rosa had “alleged criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity of murder committed from July 3, 2016 to the end of April 2018, during which at least 32 people were killed.

“Ang pagmamahal sa bansa ay di pamumulitika. Kaming lahat ay dumaan sa training, serbisyo para protektahan ang Pilipinas. Marami sa amin ang namatay sa pagdedepensa ng ating bayan. Walang pulitikahan diyan,” Dela Rosa said.

(Love for country is not politicking. We all underwent training and service to protect the Philippines. Many of us died defending our country. There is no politics in that.)

Dela Rosa served as PNP chief in 2016 during the height of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. He held the post for 21 months before retiring.

The senator is currently staying within the Senate premises under the chamber’s protective custody.

He said he would remain there while awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on his petition seeking a temporary restraining order against the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant.

On Monday, Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate for the first time after staying out of the public eye for six months amid reports that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest.

CCTV footage showed the senator rushing toward the plenary hall to avoid arrest by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, who were reportedly wearing civilian clothes.

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, two female agents were about to serve the ICC warrant when Dela Rosa ran away. Matibag also denied claims that the senator had been tackled.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police reminded its personnel to refrain from posting political content online amid tensions surrounding the ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.

Showing up at Senate

In an interview on Balitanghali on Wednesday, dela Rosa said only Senator Alan Peter Cayetano knew he was going to the Senate on Monday.

"Wala naman akong ibang kausap kundi si Senator Alan lang. So siya lang nakakaalam," he said.

(I was not talking to anyone but only Senator Alan. So he was the only one who knew.)

Asked if they talked about being given protective custody by the Senate, dela Rosa replied: "Never. Hindi namin napag-usapan 'yan. Hindi namin napag-usapan."

(We did not talk about that.)

"Ang napag-usapan lang namin is 'yung kung gusto kong magbago ang leadership ng Senado, kailangan ko sumipot dahil ako 'yung pang-13th vote," he said.

(We only talked about changing the leadership if the Senate, that if I wanted that, I needed to show up because I am the 13th vote.)

Asked about the presence of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV at the Senate on Monday, saying he went there because of dela Rosa's challenge to him before, he said: "Ay okay, bilib ako sa kaniya at pumunta siya. Pero the fact remains that hindi siya in any way dapat involved sa operation na 'yon dahil hindi naman siya taga-ICC. Hindi naman siya miyembro ng Interpol, hindi siya miyembro ng PCTC. Hindi siya miyembro ng NBI or any law enforcement agency. Bakit siya may hawak ng warrant of arrest? 'Yun lang ang tanong ko."

(Ah okay, I admire him for coming. But the fact remains that he should not in any way be involved in that operation because he is not with the ICC, Interpol, PCTC, NBI, or any law enforcement agency. Why did he have a copy of the warrant of arrest? That is my question.)

"Pero 'yung pagpunta niya doon dahil doon sa hamon ko na 'sige punta ka dito, ikaw mag-posas sa akin,' then I give it to him, I give it to him. Magaling siya at pumunta rin siya," dela Rosa said.

(But his going there because of my challenge that, 'Okay, come here, you be the one to put handcuffs on me,' then I give it to him, I give it to him. That's good of him to go.) —MCG/KG, GMA News