IBP calls on Senate to 'fairly' address Bato dela Rosa ICC warrant, impeachment

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Thursday called on the Senate to perform its duty and "fairly and independently" address the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa as well as the impeachment proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"The IBP calls on the Senate to perform forthwith its constitutional duties. Neither the shadow of violence nor the pressure of orchestrated political noise must deter the Senate's duty," it said in a statement.

Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for crimes against humanity. The warrant mentioned his "alleged criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator" for crimes between July 2016 to April 2018.

He was placed under protective custody of the upper chamber on Monday after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents attempted to serve the warrant against him.

READ: Who is Bato dela Rosa?

The senator left the Senate premises at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the IBP also mentioned the continuity of the Senate leadership as part of the upper chamber's constitutional duties.

Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III was recently replaced by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President. This came ahead of the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment of the vice president.

"The Senate as an institution must stand above factional interests," the IBP said.

Meanwhile, the IBP also condemned the shots that were fired at the Senate on Wednesday, saying that the incident "threatens the very fabric of the Republic."

READ: Senate shooting, lockdown: What went down

"While the facts of the incident are being verified, the convergence of these volatile events must not be ignored," it said.

"We caution against any forces exploiting this chaos to manufacture a crisis or provoke a constitutional breakdown for selfish political gain," it added.

The IBP said that the Supreme Court remains the final bulwark against overreach and extra-constitutional maneuvers.

"We trust the SC to exercise its power of judicial review promptly should any action violate the Constitution," it said. — VDV, GMA News