Ombudsman Remulla to Bato: Flight is an indication of guilt

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla called out Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Friday for using the Senate to evade the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him, saying flight is an indication of guilt.

Remulla made the response in connection with Dela Rosa’s recent statement thanking him for supposedly giving the senator a heads up months ago of the ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity due to drug war deaths during the latter's tenure as chief of the Philippine National Police.

Dela Rosa left the Senate on Thursday dawn with Senator Robin Padilla according to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Nagtataka ako sa kanya, naging chief PNP siya, tumatakbo siya sa batas. Humarap siya. Bakit niya ginugulo ‘yung mundo?” Remulla said at a press conference.

(I am so baffled. He is a former Philippine National Police chief and yet he is evading authorities. He should face the warrant. Why is he causing chaos?)

“Managot ka sa iyong mga gawain. Sagutin mo. Kung wala ka talagang kasalanan, harapin mo. Anong klaseng tao ‘yan? Ganyan ba dapat senador natin? Tumatakbo sa batas?,” Remulla added.

(Take responsibility for your actions. Be accountable. If you are innocent, face it. What kind of a person is that? Is that the kind of Senator we have? Someone who is a fugitive from justice?)

GMA News Online has reached out to Dela Rosa's camp for comment and will publish the same soon as it is available.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents tried to serve the ICC warrant to dela Rosa on Monday, May 11, but failed after Dela Rosa sought refuge in the Senate.

Dela Rosa then voted for Senator Alan Cayetano as Senate President alongside 12 other senators. This resulted in the Cayetano-led Senate to grant Dela Rosa protective custody.

On Wednesday night, a shooting incident occurred in the Senate, which was then on lockdown.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca said he fired warning shots to NBI agents because they apparently failed to heed his call to lower their firearms, causing panic and fear among those in the Senate premises, including journalists. — RSJ, GMA News