VP Sara Duterte defends Bato dela Rosa, addresses Senate tension

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday defended Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid tensions that unfolded at the Senate earlier in the day.

In an interview in The Hague, Duterte said she was saddened and angered by recent political developments in the country, particularly what she described as a “disrespect” toward the Senate as an institution.

“Nakakalungkot at nakakagalit sa nangyayari sa ating bayan lalong lalo na sa pagpapakita ng disrespect sa insitutusyon ng Senado," she said.

(It is sad and infuriating what is happening in our country, especially the disrespect shown towards the institution of the Senate.)

Duterte reiterated her position that foreign courts and tribunals have no direct jurisdiction within the Philippines unless their orders are recognized and enforced through local courts.

“Sinasabi ko noon, hindi pwede yan dahil ang mga foreign court at foreign tribunals, wala silang jurisdiction sa loob ng Pilipinas kaya wala ring bisa lahat ng issuances ng foreign courts sa Pilipinas maliban na lang kung ipasok yan sa local courts at yung local courts ang mag-issue ng kanyang sariling Philippine order base don sa mapagusapan sa kaso, yun ang dapat na proseso," she said.

(I said before, that's not possible because foreign courts and foreign tribunals, they don't have jurisdiction within the Philippines, so all issuances by foreign courts are invalid in the Philippines unless they are entered into local courts and the local courts issue their own Philippine order based on what is discussed in the case, that's the proper process.)

"Dahil pag sinasabi mo na pwede yan sa isang Republic Act, masasagasaan niya yung rights ng isang accused na nasa Bill of Rights natin na protektado ng Constitution natin. Ibig sabihin nava-violate yung rights ni Senator Dela Rosa, at nakita na natin noon,” she added.

(Because if you say that it is possible in a Republic Act, he will be violating the rights of an accused that are in our Bill of Rights that are protected by our Constitution. That means that Senator Dela Rosa's rights are being violated, and we have seen it before.)

The Vice President also described the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to foreign authorities as an “extraordinary rendition” rather than a lawful surrender.

“Sa paningin ng buong mundo, ang tawag nila doon ay extraordinary rendition, hindi surrender dahil sapilitan mo kinuha at dinala mo sa ibang bayan,” she said.

(In the eyes of the whole world, they call that extraordinary rendition, not surrender because you forcibly took him and brought him to another country.)

According to the Vice President, former president Rodrigo Duterte was aware of the current turmoil in the Senate today.

He learned of tensions involving Dela Rosa after seeing reports on television. The Vice President said she initially had no plans of telling him, but the former president saw the news reports on television.

Duterte also revealed she had spoken briefly with Dela Rosa the yesterday, though their conversation was cut short due to meetings. She added that the Senator attempted to call her again earlier in the day, but she was unable to answer.

She remains in contact with allies in the Senate and is seeking ways to extend support to Dela Rosa amid the ongoing controversy.

On the impeachment complaint transmitted by Congress, Duterte declined to elaborate, saying her legal and impeachment teams are already handling the matter.

“The Congress already transmitted articles of impeachment. We have a defense team, impeachment team that takes care of the issues so I leave the statement to the team,” she said. — BAP, GMA News