Palace denies political persecution vs. Senator Bato Dela Rosa

Malacañang on Wednesday rejected claims that fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is being subjected to political persecution, saying the case against him before the International Criminal Court (ICC) dates back to 2017, when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was still a private citizen.

In an interview with Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that the ICC investigation began during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“Tandaan po natin na 'yung kaso sa ICC, nagsimula ito 2017. Pangulo pa po si dating pangulong Duterte at at that time, private citizen pa po si Pangulong Marcos Jr. (Remember that the ICC case began in 2017, when former president Rodrigo Duterte was in office and President Marcos was still a private citizen),” she said.

“Para sabihin na political persecution ito, parang medyo malayo po. Huwag nating ikonekta kasi kaso na po iyan 2017 pa (To say that this is political persecution is far-fetched. We should not connect it to politics because the case dates back to 2017),” she added.

Castro cited Section 17 of Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, which provides for the handling of cases involving international crimes in relation to proceedings before international tribunals.

She said the Philippines recognized the ICC’s authority while it was still a member of the tribunal.

“Kapag na-start na po ang isang paglilitis o pagdidinig o pag-iimbestiga sa isang international court, puwede po na doon na hayaan na tuluy-tuloy maimbestigahan sa international court (When proceedings, hearings or an investigation have already begun before an international court, the investigation may be allowed to continue there),” Castro said.

She maintained that the government was not violating the law by recognizing the ICC’s role in the case.

Castro also stressed that the ICC is a judicial institution, not a foreign state, noting that the Philippines was a member of the tribunal when the alleged crimes under investigation occurred.

“Wala naman po tayong nilalabag na batas patungkol doon. Kaya ‘yung sinasabi nila na walang warrant of arrest na issue dito, tandaan po natin, noong member po tayo ng ICC ay kinikilala natin ang ICC (We are not violating any law in this regard. As for the claim that no arrest warrant has been issued locally, let us remember that when we were still members of the ICC, we recognized the ICC’s authority),” Castro said.

“Hindi natin sinasabi na 'yung ICC at that time ay banyaga, na parang sinu-surrender natin ang isang tao sa isang banyaga. Hindi po kasi unang-una, hindi po state ang International Criminal Court (We are not saying that the ICC at that time was a foreign entity, as though we were surrendering a person to a foreign country. First of all, the International Criminal Court is not a state),” she added.

Castro urged the public to look beyond Dela Rosa and other individuals allegedly involved in the anti-drug campaign and consider the plight of the victims and their families.

She said Filipinos should also recognize the suffering of families who believe they have yet to obtain justice for their loved ones.

“Isipin natin bilang Pilipino na merong ibang mga Pilipino rin na umiiyak, na nakakaranas ng sama ng loob dahil hanggang ngayon, pakiramdam nila ay wala pa silang nakukuhang sapat at tunay na hustisya (As Filipinos, let us remember that there are other Filipinos who are grieving and suffering because they feel that, to this day, they have yet to receive sufficient and genuine justice),” she said.

The ICC investigation concerns alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, during which Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police. -Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos/Philippine News Agency