Zubiri on Bato: Unless there’s a local warrant, we can’t give him up

The Senate will not give up Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa unless there's  a local warrant for his arrest, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday.

Zubiri made the remark after the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber rejected the Philippines appeal of the ICC  prosecutor continuing to investigate the thousands of killings in the country's war on on drugs.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Dela Rosa, Duterte first chief of the Philippine National Police, were among the officials mentioned in the ICC prosecutor's report on the killings.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has said that the the ICC prosecutor could indict certain individuals if there is sufficient evidence if the appeal was denied.

"Unless there is a warrant of arrest in a local court we cannot give him up, especially during session days. He is protected by the Senate," Zubiri said.

In a statement, Senator Bong Go reiterated that ICC should not meddle in the internal affairs of the Philippines, claiming that the courts in the country remain fully functional and free from political interference.

Go is a longtime confidante and former aide of Duterte. 

“Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by competent authorities. Filipinos should be judged by fellow Filipinos before Philippine courts operating under Philippine laws,” Go said.

“Pilipino dapat ang humusga kung mas nagiging ligtas na ba sila ikumpara noong hindi nasimulan ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga. Sila ang tanging nakakaalam kung nakakalakad sila at ang kanilang mga anak na mas ligtas at hindi nababastos at nasasaktan,”he added.

(Filipinos should be the judge on whether or not they feel safer before the campaign against illegal drugs.  Only they would know if they and their children can walk without getting hurt or disrespected.)

Another Duterte ally in the Senate, Senator Francis Tolentino, explained that the denial of the appeal did not grant the ICC the jurisdiction “which it lacks from the very beginning.”

“Any misguided claims suggesting otherwise would only highlight ICC's persistent disregard for Philippine sovereignty. It is important to note that a foreign entity has no authority to investigate the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said. —NB, GMA Integrated News