Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave him a "solid rock" assurance that International Criminal Court investigators would not be allowed to enter the country to probe the former administration's war on drugs campaign.
Dela Rosa said he received Marcos' assurance during a dinner meeting in Malacañang in November last year.
Thus, he said he would hold onto the President's assurance.
"Solid as a rock 'yung assurance na binigay sa akin ng Pangulo noong kami ay nag-dinner doon sa Malacanang. Solid as a rock. Naniniwala ako sa Pangulo. Buo ang tiwala ko sa kanya sa sinabi niya sa akin about the ICC until now. Buong buo pa rin ang aking paniniwala sa kanya na hindi niya papapasukin ang ICC," he said.
Dela Rosa reechoed Marcos' earlier remarks "that any unauthorized investigation by foreign entities in the Philippines is an encroachment of the country's sovereignty."
He then urged the authorities to "verify and confirm" the alleged entry of ICC investigators into the country.
He said the government should ensure the country's position regarding ICC intrusion "must be upheld."
"The government's position should be maintained and it should be felt on the ground. Kung ang official position of the government is hindi talaga sila i-entertain at nanghihimasok sila dito, nagka-conduct ng investigation," he said.
Dela Rosa cited former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile's earlier statement that any intruders to the country "can be arrested."
Should the ICC probers insist on unauthorized investigations in the Philippines,
Dela Rosa said the Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Immigration, must declare the ICC probers as "undesirable aliens" should they insist on unauthorized investigations in the Philippines.
It must be followed by an immediate deportation, he added.
"I will ask the DOJ, 'You do the right thing.' Sobrang encroachment 'yan sa ating sovereignty. Hindi sila in-authorize ng gobyerno natin, then nandito sila nag-conduct ng investigation. Para na tayong ginagago ng mga tao na 'yan," he said.
Dela Rosa recalled Marcos' previous remarks—which he kept as a "personal promise"—on defending the sovereignty of the Philippines.
"He will not let the ICC bully his government," he added.
The senator has once again questioned the ICC's jurisdiction to investigate any matters about the Philippines, particularly the implemented illegal drug war campaign under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa also cited the dissenting opinion of the two ICC Appeals Chamber judges who voted against the push for the resumption of the probe.
He then reiterated the judges' opinion "that the request for authorization of an investigation was filed when the Philippines was no longer a party to the Rome Statute—a treaty which created the ICC."
"Para sa akin talaga wala silang jurisdiction. 'Yung kanilang dissenting opinion ay very clear na nagsasabi na wala silang jurisdiction because the request for the pre-trial investigation and the approval from the pre-trial chamber was beyond the reglementary period," said Dela Rosa.
