Bato hurt by 'close' friend Hontiveros over ICC reso

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday said he was hurt by Senator Risa Hontiveros, whom he considers a close friend, after the opposition lawmaker filed a resolution urging the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war.

“Masama talaga [ang loob ko]. I have to tell you frankly. Of all the people, siya talaga. Meron man kaming personal relationships, ‘di ba, but anyway. Baka sabihin niya trabaho lang walang personalan, then sa akin that’s very personal. Kahit sabihin mo trabaho yan, it’s very personal to me dahil I'm one of the subjects na iimbestigahan. So that has become personal to me,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

“Very close ko ang husband niya. Very close sa akin even kami. Close kami,” he added.

(I am hurt by the resolution. I have to tell you frankly. Of all the people, she was the one who filed it. We have a personal relationship, right? Even if she says that she is only doing her job, it’s very personal to me because I’m one of the subjects of the ICC investigation. Her husband and I were very close. I am also close to her.)

Dela Rosa and Hontiveros’ late husband Francisco Baraquel Jr. were mistahs, or batch mates, at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Dela Rosa, who was the Philippine National Police chief when Duterte launched his drug war, said he has no plans to talk to Hontiveros on the ICC resolution.

“Ayaw ko makikipagplastikan. Hindi ako plastic na tao. When I say masama ang loob ko, sabihin ko talaga na masama ang loob ko sa’yo. Hindi ‘yung pa-smile-smile ka parang ngiting kabayo, ‘yon pala sasaksakin mo pala sa likod ‘yung nginingitian mong tao. Di ako ganong klaseng tao. Prangka ako,” Dela Rosa said.

(I don’t want to be fake. When I say, I’m hurt, I’ll tell it to your face. I’m not the kind of person who smiles at you then stabs you in the back. I am a frank person.)

While he expects that Hontiveros’ resolution will not gain traction in the Senate, Dela Rosa argued that the resolutions earlier filed by Senators Robin Padilla and Jinggoy Estrada opposing ICC’s investigation should be prioritized over Hontiveros’ version as these were filed first.

“Unahin muna ‘yung dalawa kasi nauna yon e. But as I’ve said, since ‘di na nga pinag-usapan ‘yung dalawa na nauna, ‘di ba hindi na tinuloy at the committee level, then bakit naman bigyang priority yung kanya?” Dela Rosa asked.

(The committee should prioritize the two resolutions which were filed before Hontiveros’ resolution. But as I’ve said, the committee did not tackle it. So why are we giving priority to her resolution?)

Dela Rosa likewise questioned the timing of the filing of the resolutions favoring the ICC resolutions, including those that were pushed in the House of Representatives.

“’Yung timing ba naman kung kailan may gusot between the vice president, between the Dutertes and the speaker of the House, tsaka pa naglabasan ‘yung mga resolution,” he said.

“Kung talagang sinsero sila sa kanilang gusto na papasukin ICC , why did it take one and a half years para ma-realize na, ‘Uy, kailangan pala talaga nating papasukin ‘yung ICC kahit ‘di na tayo miyembro,’” he added.

(Why file these resolutions amid the rift between the Dutertes and the speaker of the House of Representatives? If they are really sincere, why did it take them one and a half years to realize, 'We should let the ICC in even though we're no longer a member?)

Dela Rosa also challenged those who support the ICC investigation to file cases before the local courts if there is a sufficient basis for their claims.

“We have a criminal justice [system] here in the Philippines. I-file nila kung mero silang kaso. I-file nila kahit saang korte dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.

“Kasi alam nila na ‘yung kanilang ginagawa ay puro mga bula na walang leg to stand on ‘yung kanilang mga accusation kaya alam nila na  hindi i-entertain ‘yan ng local courts,” he added.

(We have a criminal justice system here in the Philippines. If they have sufficient basis, then file it before any local courts. They know that these cases cannot stand before courts and the courts will not entertain these.)

Dela Rosa tagged the push for ICC investigation as mere propaganda.

“Kaya don sila.  Propaganda ‘yung ginagawa nila dun sa ICC. Alam nila ‘yan. Dahil kung malakas ang kaso eh di [na-convict]  na ang mga pulis…Nakakulong na, na-dismiss sa serbisyo,” he said.

“Gusto nila wholesale para may impact kuno. Ang 6,000 ginawang 20,000 [deaths]. Baka magiging 100,000 na ‘yan ngayon. Isama pa ang COVID victims. Dagdagan pa ninyo,” he went on.

(What they are doing in the ICC is mere propaganda. What they want is wholesale so they can show the public their impact. They claimed that the deaths are at 20,000. The number might go as high as 100,000. Include the COVID-19 victims in your death toll.)

Apart from Dela Rosa, Senator Imee Marcos expressed objection to the resolution filed by Hontiveros.

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said it is up to the president to decide on the possible return to the ICC.

“He alone makes that decision and everything else is just noise on whether we should join or not. Therefore I do not want to comment and shall just wait for President BBM to make a decision on that matter,” Zubiri said.

Last week, a similar resolution was filed in the House of Representatives.

Following this, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that returning under the fold of the ICC is “under study” — a statement which appears to contradict his earlier pronouncement that he would not cooperate with the international court’s inquiry into the drug war implemented by his predecessor.

While he made a softer stance on the issue, Marcos pointed out that there are problems with regards to the international tribunal’s jurisdiction over the Philippines. — BM, GMA Integrated News