Bato disappointed Año didn't warn Duterte's staff of impending arrest

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday admitted having an ill feeling towards National Security Adviser Eduardo Año following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte last week.

According to Dela Rosa, Año, “out of courtesy,” could have at least informed Duterte’s team, who was then in Hong Kong, that the former president would get arrested once he returned to the Philippines.

“Malungkot ako dahil nga, ano ba naman kung, ‘diba… Ako, hindi ko siya didiktahan ko anong gawin niya, pero ano ba naman kung kaibigan mo, pinagkatiwalaan ka nung tao, ngayon nandiyan na sa sitwasyon na ganyan,” the reelectionist senator said.

(I’m sad. I’m not telling him what to do, but he could’ve informed Duterte beforehand as he’s considered a trusted friend.)

“Kahit na magsabi siya, uuwi at uwi naman talaga si [dating] Pangulong Duterte dahil kahit anong pag-kumbinsi sa kanya ng mga kasamahan niya doon sa Hong Kong na huwag umuwi, talagang desidido siyang umuwi, gusto niyang harapin. Pero out of courtesy lang sana, on the part of Secretary Año, sana kumontak man lang siya doon kahit sa mga staff lang ni President Duterte na kasama, pakisabi lang na arestuhin namin siya pag-uwi niya,” he added. 

(Even if he told them, former President Duterte would go home despite his fellows in Hong Kong telling him not to. But out of courtesy on the part of Secretary Año, I hoped he just contacted former President Duterte’s staff and told them that he would get arrested once he got home.) 

Año served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and later on the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government during the Duterte administration.

Dela Rosa, however, clarified that his hard feelings towards Año were only on a personal level.

“Ayun lang ikinasama ng loob ko. Hindi ko ikinasama ang loob ko na ginampanan niya ‘yung kanyang trabaho sa gobyerno ngayon. It's more of personal, not official. More on personal on the personal level ang aking tampo,” he explained.

(That's all I feel bad about. I don't feel bad about him doing his job in the government right now. It's more personal, not official. My anger is more on the personal level.)

GMA News Online sought for the comment of Año and will update this story once he responds.

The Duterte patriarch was placed under the custody of authorities on March 11 after getting arrested upon arrival in the Philippines from Hong Kong.

He was later brought to The Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) for charges of crimes against humanity.

Traitor?

Dela Rosa also said that he had heard rumors of an alleged traitor in the group who was with Duterte in Hong Kong. He, however, said he has no idea who the person is. 

“May narinig rin ako, but I cannot confirm or deny dahil hindi ko man kilala kung sino ang tao ‘yun na alluded to, na nagsabi ng ganon. Hindi ko man alam, hindi ko kilala kung sino. Pero may mga tsismis na ganon,” the senator told reporters. 

(I also heard something like that but I cannot confirm nor deny because I don't know who the person who was alluded to. I have no idea. But there are rumors like that.) –NB, GMA Integrated News