Palace slams Bato for saying he won't surrender to the ICC

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro has slammed Senator Ronald ''Bato'' dela Rosa for saying that he is considering not surrendering to the International Criminal Court once a warrant of arrest is issued against him.

At a press conference on Thursday, Castro said it was puzzling that the lawmaker was a former chief of the Philippine National Police, but it seems he prefers to hide if a warrant of arrest is already there.

''Nakakapagtaka lamang po na siya ay dati pang PNP chief, 'yan po ba ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig sa taumbayan na kapag may warrant of arrest ay dapat magtago? Hindi po talaga tayo magtataka na natagalang sumuko or nahuli ang dating... si Pastor Quiboloy,'' Castro said.

(I'm just puzzled that he's a former PNP chief, isn't it what he wants to show to the public that if there's a warrant of arrest, you will just hide? No wonder it had been difficult to arrest Pastor Quiboloy.)

''Well, anyway sabi po natin hindi po natin sana... hindi natin sinasangayunan ang ganoong klaseng paniniwala at kanyang nais gawin,'' he added.

(We don't agree with that kind of thinking and what he wants to do.)

Castro said this would not bring any good to Filipino citizens if its own leaders will not face the allegations thrown against them.

''Hindi po ito makakabuti sa mga kababayan natin na mismong lider natin ay hindi haharapin ang anumang kaso o complaint na naisampa o maisasampa laban sa kanya,'' Castro said.

(This will not be good for the public when one of our leaders does not want to face any case or complaint filed against him/her.)

Dela Rosa earlier said he is considering hiding and not surrendering in the event that authorities will implement a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC against him.

Dela Rosa, an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his first Philippine National Police chief, has maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

The former president, who is facing allegations of crimes against humanity for the drug war deaths in police operations during his term, is in the custody of the ICC, staying at a detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.

Left Duterte behind?

Meanwhile, the Palace official also gave a hint that it was the former top cop who left Duterte amid the latter's legal battle given that Dela Rosa did not go with the former president in Hong Kong.

''At 'di po ba sabi natin parang siya nga yata ang medyo umiwan kay dating Pangulong Duterte considering hindi siya pumunta sa Hong Kong kasama sana nila. Hindi po ba dapat ang kaibigan ay walang iwanan?'' Castro said.

(It seems he's the one who left former President Duterte considering that he did not go with him in Hong Kong. If you're a friend, you should not leave him, right?)

Castro ensured that once a warrant of arrest would be issued against Dela Rosa, the Philippine government would work with the Interpol for his arrest.

''Ganoon pa rin po ang ating gagawin, makikipagcoordinate po tayo sa Interpol at maaari pa rin po nating gamitin ang sinasabi sa batas, ang RA 9851,'' Castro said.

(We will do the same. We will coordinate with the Interpol and we can use what is stated under RA 9851.)

Section 17 of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law states that: ''In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News