Bongbong Marcos says Senate 'sheltering a fugitive', opposes remote voting for Bato dela Rosa

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday said that the Senate is sheltering "a fugitive from justice," and opposed a proposed amendment to the Senate rules to allow members to participate in proceedings via teleconferencing.

He said only Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa would benefit from the measure. There is a warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court, where he is facing crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings under former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

In his briefing with the Philippine media delegation in Tokyo, Marcos said, "The Senate is now sheltering a fugitive from justice. How did that happen? I don't understand how the Senate is supposed to function if those are the kind of things that the Senate is embroiled in. I hope they figure it out soon.”

The president said that the latest issue on amending the Senate rules on videoconferencing seems to be intended for Dela Rosa’s benefit.

“I disagree with that. I understand that we had to do it during COVID because there was a health risk. But I do not see any particularly good reason for us to allow it now,” Marcos said in a press conference Friday on the sidelines of his state visit to Japan.

“It seems to only be applicable to Senator Bato (dela Rosa), para makaboto si Senator Bato dahil nagtatago siya,” he added.

Dela Rosa's lawyers have contested the fugitive tag on Dela Rosa, saying a warrant from a Philippine court was needed before he could be arrested.

The Supreme Court has denied Dela Rosa's prayer for a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the warrant.

The proposal to allow for online voting was raised by Senator Rodante Marcoleta on May 11, the day Dela Rosa resurfaced on the Senate floor after a six-month absence.

Dela Rosa has since left the Senate's protective custody.

“Now, for someone who is actually a fugitive from justice, na hinahanap ng pulis, na hinahanap ng Interpol at may arrest warrant galing sa ICC, palagay ko hindi siya dapat bumoto hangga't dumating siya doon sa Senado. Kung he's willing to take the risk like he did the last time, eh ibang usapan ‘yun. Basta’t nandiyan siya,” Marcos said.

Marcos, a senator from 2010 to 2016, said that it has been a long-standing tradition of the Senate that one must be physically present in the plenary for his or her vote to be counted.—with Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/AOL/NB, GMA News