Bato's ICC claim faces scrutiny

Bato's ICC claim faces scrutiny | Daily Tribune

Malacañang on Saturday challenged Senator Bato Dela Rosa to provide evidence to his claim that International Criminal Court investigators are "threatening and forcing" retired National Police officers to sign affidavits implicating him and former President Duterte in the previous administration’s war on drugs.

In a radio interview on Saturday afternoon, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro emphasized that Dela Rosa’s accusations could easily be fabricated, stressing that "without solid evidence, they remain mere stories."

"Ang daling gumawa ng kwento. So kung meron siyang kwento nung sinasabi niya na pinipilit na mga pulis eh 'di pagawain niya ng document/affidavit na may mga ICC ditong pinipilit silang mag-testify ("It's so easy to make up a story. So if he has a story claiming that police officers are being forced, then he should have them make a document or affidavit stating that ICC investigators are indeed pressuring them to testify)," Castro said.

Castro expressed scepticism about the specific type of coercion Dela Rosa was referring to.

"Ano bang klaseng pamimilit ang kinukwento ni Senator Bato? May tutukan ba 'to? Mga sinasabi niya mga uniformed personnel 'to. Kaya ba itong takutin basta-basta? (What kind of coercion is Senator Bato talking about? Was there a threat involved? These people he's referring to are uniformed personnel. Can they really be intimidated that easily?)," she asked.

Castro went on. "For me lang, ang taong walang alam. Kaya mo ang pilipting magtestify? (For me, someone who knows nothing, can they really be forced to testify?)," Castro said, before adding that "Yes. They can."

She then recalled how both former Bureau of Corrections official Rafael Ragos and self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa were also allegedly coerced into testifying against former Senator Leila de Lima.

"Napilit silang magtestify. Napilit silang gumawa ng kwento laban kay former Senator Leila De Lima

During a House investigation last year, Espinosa testified before lawmakers that Dela Rosa pressured him to implicate de Lima and businessman Peter Lim in the illegal drug trade.

"So maybe. 'Yun yong nagawa nila (that's what they did). It takes one to know one," Castro said.

Castro mentioned that former Iloilo Mayor Mabilog reportedly faced similar pressure and intimidation from the previous administration.

"Dahil mukhang ito rin ang nirereklamo ni dating Iloilo Mayor Mabilog na gustong ipagawa sa kanya kaya siya tumakbo at umalis ng Pilipinas dahil sa pananakot na kailangan niyang pumirma at mga testify sa kalaban ng dating pangulo noon (It seems this is also what former Iloilo Mayor Mabilog complained about—that he was being pressured to do something against his will, which led him to run for office and eventually leave the Philippines due to threats demanding that he sign documents and testify against the former president’s opponents)," she said.

"So siguro alam nilang kung papaano gumawa at manakot para walang magawa ang isang testigo at para maging false witness against somebody (So maybe they know how to threaten and intimidate a witness into being helpless and turning into a false witness against someone)," she added.

Castro said it appears that Dela Rosa's claims are similar to former Iloilo Mayor

Over the weekend, Dela Rosa raised concerns about what he described as an "ongoing mission" by ICC investigators at a hotel in Pasay City.

He announced plans to initiate a Senate inquiry into the issue.

“Magka-conduct kami ng hearing at ‘yung mga tao na involved diyan, ‘yung mga Pilipino na mga taksil sa ating soberanya ay mananagot ‘yan (We will conduct a hearing and the people involved in that, the Filipinos who are traitors to our sovereignty, will be held accountable),” Dela Rosa revealed after being asked about President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s remark that he is open to reconciling with the Duterte family.

He then condemned the intimidation of retired police officers, stressing that these individuals have dedicated their lives to serving the Philippines.

Dela Rosa, likewise, expressed doubt on Marcos' sincerity in reconciling with the Dutertes.

“Kung sinsero talaga siya sa kanyang sinasabi, ang unang-una niyang gawin is palayasin niya ‘yung mga ICC investigators na andiyan ngayon sa mga hotel diyan sa Pasay na nananakot sa mga retired na mga pulis na pinipilit nila mag-sign ng affidavit na ididiin na kami ni Pangulong Duterte, otherwise, sila daw ang ididiin, ‘yung mga pulis na pinagtatawag nila,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said these developments contradict the Marcos administration’s claims that they do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.

“Walang sinseridad ‘yan kung gano’n. Ang pinakaunang gawin ni Pangulong Marcos dapat, palayasin niya ‘yan, i-deport niya ‘yang mga ICC investigators na ‘yan na andito ngayon na nananakot sa ating mga kapulisan na magtestigo! ‘Yan ang dapat niyang gawin kung siya ay sinsero sa kanyang reconciliation na hinahangad,” he stressed.

The former President, meanwhile, is currently jailed in the ICC detention center in The Hague over the alleged crimes against humanity over his war on drugs campaign.

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, was one of Duterte's co-accused in extra-judicial killings in the previous administration's anti-illegal drugs initiatives.