Palace: Claims on Bato arrest a 'diversion' from Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Malacañang on Wednesday said claims on the alleged arrest of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa are a diversion created by the allies of Vice President Sara Duterte to divert the public's attention from the developments in her impeachment trial.

In a message to reporters, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro urged the public to identify the sources of the claims and their possible motives before believing them.

"Mapapansin na walang laman at walang konteksto ang pinapakalat nina Atty. Bondoc at Roque about Sen. Bato. 'Timing' ang ginagawa nila... para matabunan ang mga naisiwalat ng COA patungkol sa mga walang resibo na paggasta milyong-milyong pisong confidential funds ni VP Sara sa OVP at DEPED," she said.

(What Atty. Bondoc and Roque are spreading about Sen. Bato is baseless and devoid of context. Timing is what they are doing… to overshadow the COA's revelations regarding the undocumented disbursement of millions of pesos in confidential funds by Vice President Sara at the OVP and DepEd.)

"Makikita ang motibo sa ginagawang diversionary tactic ng mga kaalyado ni VP Sara. Maging mapanuri," she added.

(The motive behind the diversionary tactic being employed by Vice President Sara's allies is evident. Be discerning.)

GMA News Online has requested comment from Bondoc regarding the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

'Hudas'

In a post on Tuesday, Roque alleged that an individual betrayed Dela Rosa.

"Meron nga daw na nang-hudas kay Bato," his post read.

Meanwhile, both the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government said they have "no information" about the alleged arrest.

Based on the International Criminal Court's list of defendants as of Wednesday morning, the senator is also still "at-large."

To recall, authorities attempted to serve the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa on May 11, leading to a chase inside the Senate building.

He was later placed under protective custody by the upper chamber.

A few hours after gunshots rang out while the Senate was placed on lockdown. In the early hours of May 14, Dela Rosa slipped out of the Senate after "hitching" a ride with Senator Robinhood Padilla.

Dela Rosa has not appeared in public since the incident.

Trial a 'mess'

Meanwhile, Duterte shrugged off Thursday the claim of Malacañang that claims of Dela Rosa's arrest was a diversion created by her allies to divert the public's attention from the developments in her impeachment trial.

For the Vice President, there is no need for a diversionary tactic as the impeachment trial is already a "mess" in itself because the law is being bent.

"I don't think kailangan guluhin ang impeachment. Napakaklaro naman 'yung bending the law diyan sa impeachment na 'yan simula pa sa House of Representatives hanggang sa pagkakaroon ng dalawang tao na nakaupo doon sa, ano bang tawag diyan, stage or rostrum or elevated platform," she said in an interview in Davao City.

(I don’t think there’s a need to mess up the impeachment process. The bending of the law in the impeachment is very clear—from the House of Representatives up to where two people have to sit on the rostrum.)

“Hindi na kailangan guluhin ang impeachment dahil magulo na siya sa bending the law,” she added.

(There is no need to mess up the impeachment, as the bending of the law has already made it chaotic.)

The Vice President also said she remains satisfied with the performance of her defense team.

"Nagpapasalamat lang talaga ako dahil mayroong mga abogado na tinanggap ang aking kaso at (I'm just really grateful that there are lawyers who accepted my case and) they are diligent and passionate enough to defend me," she said.

Call to Castro

The Vice President likewise called on Castro to be professional, following the latter's remarks with regard to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. allegedly supporting the ICC and vice versa.

"Si Claire Castro is a spokesperson of the President and the Office of the President, or hindi ko alam kung kaninong spokesperson siya pero by the fact na spokesperson ka at mayroong seal ng Office of the President diyan, dapat maging professional ka sa mga sinasabi mo," the Vice President said.

(Claire Castro is a spokesperson for the President, the Office of the President, or I’m not sure exactly whose spokesperson she is—but the fact remains that if you are a spokesperson and the seal of the Office of the President is displayed there, you must be professional in what you say.)

"She doesn’t have the liberty na tulad sa atin na puwedeng magsalita ng kahit anong iniisip natin at kahit anong opinion natin kasi nagsasalita tayo para sa sarili natin. Pero kapag may seal sa likod mo, sa harap mo, kung ano ‘yung professionalism na hinihingi galing doon sa opisina na 'yun, 'yun dapat ipakita at ibigay mo sa taong bayan," she added.

(She doesn't have the same liberty as we do—to speak our minds or express any opinion we have—because we speak for ourselves. But when that seal is behind or in front of you, you must demonstrate and deliver the level of professionalism required by that office to the public.)

Last week, Castro slammed VP Sara for saying that Marcos is backing the ICC amid the detention of her father, Rodrigo Duterte, for charges of crimes against humanity.

The Palace official has described the Vice President’s claims as "useless, baseless, and nonsense." — VDV, GMA News