Bato plan to seek Senate protection slammed

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa came under fire on Friday for his plan to use the Senate to avoid arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his role in the bloody drug war during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

De la Rosa, the former police chief who spearheaded the anti-drugs crackdown that saw thousands killed, disclosed his plan to seek temporary protection from the Senate once an arrest warrant is issued against him by the ICC.

A member of Congress has protection from arrest while Congress is in session pursuant to Section 11, Article VI of the Constitution. Lawmakers in the past, like ex-senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV, sought refuge in the Senate to delay or avoid arrest.

Two militant lawmakers argued that Dela Rosa’s request must not be heeded as this is a direct affront to the rule of law, underscoring its implication of allowing the senator to use his position to evade accountability.

“We call on Senate President [Francis] Escudero to reject this blatant attempt to use the Senate as a shield against accountability,” said ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, who is running for a Senate seat.

“Senator Dela Rosa’s attempt to hide behind parliamentary immunity is a mockery of justice and an insult to the thousands of families that lost loved ones in the bloody drug war that he himself orchestrated as PNP chief,” she said.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, another senatorial candidate, urged Dela Rosa not to use the upper chamber as a “hideout,” implying that it’s not intended to house “criminals.”

“The Senate should not be turned into a hideout for criminals. It is an utter shame if an institution that is supposed to uphold justice is used as a hideout by those who wish to evade accountability,” she averred.

Brosas also slammed the senator for backpedaling on his previous statements that he was prepared for an ICC arrest warrant.

“Just a few days ago, he boldly challenged the ICC to ‘bring it on’ and said he was ready to join and take care of Duterte in jail. But now that accountability is catching up to him, especially after Duterte’s arrest, he’s suddenly trembling in fear and scrambling for Senate protection,” she said.

DAILY TRIBUNE reached out to Dela Rosa’s camp for comment but has received no response.