Bato: Phl enforcing ICC arrest warrants 'illegal'

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday warned about the legal consequences should Philippine authorities continue enforcing any arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Dela Rosa lamented that it would be illegal for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest him unless the warrant comes from a competent authority.

“Pagdating ng araw na lalabas ‘yung warrant of arrest ko, huhulihin ako ng PNP, ito ang masasabi ko sa inyo, ito lang ang masasabi ko sa inyo, lahat nang ginagawa nila ay ilegal kasi ‘yung warrant of arrest na kanilang sine-serve sa atin, hindi ‘yan nanggagaling sa competent authority (When the day comes that my warrant of arrest is issued, and the PNP comes to arrest me, here's what I have to say to you: Everything they are doing is illegal because the warrant of arrest they are serving on us does not come from a competent authority),” he said.

He said the Philippines does not recognize an ICC arrest warrant as the country is no longer a member of the Rome Statute.

Dela Rosa stressed that the government’s decision to surrender former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC had caused “so much division” among Filipinos.

“Kawawa ang Pilipinas! Ganito na lang ba tayo?,” he said.

During a rally calling for Duterte’s return to the country, Dela Rosa called on their supporters to unite against the ICC’s interference in the Philippine justice system.

He also appealed for “sobriety.”

“Ako po’y nakikiusap sa inyo na kahit kayo’y galit na galit na, kahit kayo’y nanggigigil na ng husto diyan dahil sa inhustisya na ginagawa nila, ako pa rin ang nakikiusap sa inyo, I am appealing for your sobriety. Sana kalma lang tayo (I am pleading with you, even though you are very angry, even though you are really enraged because of the injustice they are doing, I am still the one asking you. I am appealing for your sobriety. I hope we stay calm),” he said.

“Huwag natin silang bigyan ng rason para magdeklara ng Martial Law. Kailangan tayong lahat ay kalma lamang pero solid, nagkaisa at gustong-gusto na ibalik si Pangulong Duterte dito! Bring him home! (Let’s not give them a reason to declare Martial Law. We all need to remain calm but solid, united, and really wanting to bring President Duterte back here! Bring him home!),” he added.

Duterte and Dela Rosa earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to permanently prohibit the Philippine government from cooperating with the ICC.

Dela Rosa, who was the chief architect of the war on drugs campaign launched during Duterte’s term, maintained the need to eradicate illegal drugs as it is “a primary cause of heinous crimes” in the country.