Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday said he will President Rodrigo Duterte against an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on alleged human rights violations in Duterte’s “war” on illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa, in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel, said he will not only protect the President, but also himself because he is a co-accused in the ICC probe.
Dela Rosa, who has repeatedly said he is the standard-bearer of the Cusi wing of the ruling PDP-Laban until Nov. 15, stressed he will not allow the ICC to investigate because doing so would be a “slap” to the country’s “perfectly functioning” judicial system.
Earlier, he told the Senate media in a briefing that he will protect the President from cases hurled against him by the ICC.
Dela Rosa is a long-time ally of Duterte and according to Dela Rosa, the President “made” him.
Dela Rosa, the former PNP police chief, also said it is unfair for critics to say he would be a “puppet government” and that Duterte will “respect him.”
“Why would the ICC interfere here? Our judicial system is perfectly functioning,” he said.
Dela Rosa also denied a report by Amnesty International which said that crimes against humanity have been committed by the government in its drug war.
“I ask you, are there crimes against humanity being done here in the country?”
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque meanwhile said he is hoping for a “miracle” that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte would run as president in the May 2022 national elections.
Roque is still undecided about running for senator in the 2022 polls but will consider pushing through it, Mayor Duterte, who filed her candidacy for reelection in Davao City, changes her mind.
“Habang hindi pa po tapos ‘yung substitution marami pa rin pong umaasa. Alam ko po sinabi niya hindi na talaga, pero malay niyo naman po magkaroon ng milagro (While substitution has not ended yet, there are still those hoping. I know she said she won’t run, but a miracle could still happen),” he added.
Political parties only have until Nov. 15 to replace their candidates for the 2022 polls.
On Oct. 2, Mayor Duterte filed her certificate of candidacy for her third and final term as Davao mayor.
The People’s Reform Party (PRP) disclosed that Roque is among the senatorial candidates of the political party formed by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.
In a press statement last Friday, PRP vice president Rey David said Roque is expected to join former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. in the PRP Senate slate as a substitute candidate.
He said the party is also hopeful that Sara would reconsider her political decision and run for the presidency.