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Bato makes first appearance in Senate since Duterte arrest
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday made his first appearance in the Senate since the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte last March 11.
Dela Rosa first attended the Senate inquiry on the proliferation of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the country then proceeded to the hearing on Duterte’s arrest.
Before going to the hearings, Dela Rosa briefly talked with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Senator Imee Marcos, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee.
In an interview with reporters, Dela Rosa said this is the first time that he returned to Manila. To recall, he was last sighted in the National Capital Region when he attended the prayer rally for the former president in Liwasang Bonifacio last March 15.
“All over the Philippines, nagmo-motor ako,” Dela Rosa said.
According to Dela Rosa, he went to the Senate to attend the inquiry into Duterte’s arrest as per Marcos’ request.
Asked about his expectations in the hearing, Dela Rosa said, “We expect sana some clarifications from our resource persons.”
However, there were no Cabinet officials present at the hearing on Duterte’s arrest.
Dela Rosa, who earlier described himself as the number two accused in the ICC investigation on Duterte’s drug war, was the chief of the Philippine National Police when the campaign against illegal drugs was launched.
The reelectionist senator recently said he is considering hiding and not surrendering in the event authorities implement a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC against him.
Initially, Dela Rosa said he is willing to submit himself to authorities and join Duterte in the detention facility of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte is currently in ICC’s custody in The Hague, Netherlands after Philippine authorities served the warrant of arrest against from the international tribunal.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
