Resolution urging Bato Dela Rosa's surrender now at rules committee — Hontiveros

The resolution urging Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to surrender to authorities and avail himself of legal remedies has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros.

"Sa pagkaalam ko nasa Committee on Rules para sa disposition," Hontiveros told reporters on Monday.

(As far as I know, it is now with the Committee on Rules for disposition.)

"Isa ako sa pumirma. Ganun pa rin panawagan ko sa kanya: Dapat ma-resolba nang legal at mapayapa ang sitwasyong ito dahil sobrang dami nang nadamay na institusyon at buong bansa," she added.

(I am one of the signatories. My appeal remains the same: this situation should be resolved legally and peacefully because so many institutions—and the country as a whole—have been affected.)

On May 12, five senators from the minority bloc filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 395, urging Dela Rosa to submit himself to the proper authorities and pursue judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws.

Dela Rosa earlier criticized the resolution.

"Kung ang meat niyan ay pag-surrender, makiusap rin ako sa kanila na huwag masyado kayong atat na atat na makulong ako," he said.

(If the main point of the resolution is for me to surrender, then I appeal to them not to be too eager to see me jailed.)

"Hintayin lang ninyo. Pabigyan lang ninyo ako ng tsansa na i-avail yung remaining legal remedies na puwede kong i-avail. So, huwag din silang atat na atat," he added.

(Just wait. Give me the chance to exhaust the remaining legal remedies available to me. They should not be too eager.)

Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police and former Davao City police chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, is wanted by the International Criminal Court after prosecutors identified him as among Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators in a purported "common plan" involving killings linked to the administration's anti-drug campaign.

The senator resurfaced on May 11 to participate in a Senate vote on a leadership change before again retreating from public view. He had been absent from the Senate for six months amid reports that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him. — RSJ, GMA News