By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Government authorities are verifying reports that Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has already left the Senate premises in Pasay City, Malacañang said on Thursday.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cited information from “several sources” that Dela Rosa is already out of the Senate building amid heightened tension over the possible enforcement of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“But we’re still getting official confirmation on the report,” Castro said.
Dela Rosa reportedly left the Senate complex early Thursday morning, hours after gunfire was reported inside the Senate premises on Wednesday night amid authorities’ efforts to enforce the ICC’s arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag said the agency would coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, and the Office of the President to determine the appropriate course of action regarding Dela Rosa’s case.
Matibag said authorities would also seek additional information from the Office of the Senate Secretary and the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms since they are in a position to verify the senator’s movement.
“Baka maganda po, sa Senate po natin itanong, sa Senado, sa Office of the Sec. Gen. at doon po sa OSAA rin po dahil sila po ang makakakita talaga kung may aktuwal po na paglabas o pag-alis po ni Senator Bato (It would be best to direct questions to the Senate, particularly the Office of the Secretary General and the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, since they are in the best position to confirm whether Senator Bato actually left the premises),” he said.
Matibag said investigators would review the Senate CCTV footage and check airport records to determine Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.
“Definitely, there are CCTV footages na pwedeng makita po kung umalis po siya roon (that could show whether he left the premises),” he said, adding that there will also be airport monitoring.
Matibag clarified that Dela Rosa had not been arrested because authorities respect the Senate’s decision to place him under protective custody.
Asked about the possible repercussions if Dela Rosa had indeed left the Senate, Matibag said the matter would be up to the DOJ to address.
On whether senators who may have helped Dela Rosa evade authorities could face liability, Matibag said such determination would likewise fall under the DOJ’s jurisdiction.
“Noong amin pong iniatras yung paghuli ng NBI, hindi po ibig sabihin na hindi na namin na-arresto. Pero ang ibig sabihin po noon, nirirespeto namin po yung sinabi ng Senado na under protective custody (When the NBI deferred the arrest, it did not mean we were abandoning it. We merely respected the Senate’s statement that he was under protective custody),” he said.
“As a lawyer, I will speak na pag sinabing under protective custody mo, ibig sabihin ikaw ang responsable na ilabas yung tao pag hiningi po sa’yo. Iyan po yung mga nasa rules of court naman po yan (my understanding is that when a person is under protective custody, the custodian is responsible for producing that individual when required. That is provided under the rules of court),” Matibag added.
No special treatment
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. assured the public that Dela Rosa, a former police chief, would not receive any preferential treatment.
“Wala po tayong special treatment yan (There will be no special treatment). We implement the law without fear or favor. And the Philippine National Police, of course, for any eventuality arrest or whatsoever, we are always preparing ourselves para ma-improve ang ating operation,” he said.
Dela Rosa is currently under Senate protective custody while pursuing legal remedies to prevent his possible arrest and transfer to the ICC in the Hague, Netherlands.
He has been listed as “defendant” and a person “at large” by the ICC, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the anti-illegal drug campaign during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa, who previously served as the PNP chief under the Duterte administration, is accused of participating in a “common plan” to kill suspected drug offenders. (PNA)
