MANILA, Philippines — Why was Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa absent from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) occasion at Hong Kong final weekend previous to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest?
He mentioned it was as a result of he obtained data that the Worldwide Felony Courtroom (ICC) warrant for the ex-leader was out.
The senator instructed this to supporters at a rally on the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Saturday to name for Duterte’s launch from the ICC custodial facility in The Hague, Netherlands, a day after the previous president’s first look earlier than the worldwide tribunal.
“Hindi ako sumama sa Hong Kong dahil sa gabi na iyon, alas tres ng madaling araw dapat ang byahe papuntang Hong Kong, pero mayroong nag-leak sa akin ng data. Hindi pa rin tulog ang Diyos,” Dela Rosa mentioned.
(I didn’t go together with them to Hong Kong that night time, my flight to Hong Kong was alleged to be at three early morning, however somebody leaked data to me. The Lord by no means sleeps.)
“Ang sabi na, ‘Sabihan mo sila na might warrant na si President Duterte at si Bato. Huhulihin sila pagbalik nila dito galing sa Hong Kong,’” he added.
(They mentioned, ‘Inform me that there’s a warrant for President Duterte and Bato. They’ll be arrested after they return from Hong Kong.’)
“So, tinawagan ko si ES (Government Secretary) Bingbong Medialdea. Sabi ko, ’Sir, mayroon na warrant. Hindi na ako hahabol diyan. Asikasuhin ko na lang ’yung petition natin dito, petition for certiorari and prohibition. Kinoordinate ko ’yung ating mga abogado, sina Legal professional (Israelito) Torreon,” the senator additional mentioned.
(So, I referred to as ES Bingbong Medialdea. I mentioned, ‘Sir, there’s a warrant. I received’t go there anymore. I’ll simply assist with our petition right here, petition for certiorari and prohibition.’ I coordinated with our attorneys, Legal professional Torreon and others.)
Dela Rosa didn’t disclose from whom he obtained the knowledge.
Duterte’s arrest
Previous to the PDP occasion in Hong Kong, experiences mentioned the ICC already issued a warrant for the previous president’s arrest.
Dela Rosa skipped the PDP occasion at Hong Kong with abroad Filipinos on March 8.
Then on March 10, the ICC instructed INQUIRER.web that an arrest order would come from official channels.
READ: ICC on Duterte arrest order: Announcement to return from official channels
Early morning on March 11, the Worldwide Felony Police Group (Interpol) Manila obtained the official copy of the warrant, based on the Palace.
READ: Palace confirms arrest warrant from ICC for Rodrigo Duterte
Nonetheless, opposite to Dela Rosa’s speech, the warrant was just for Duterte—not for him.
Nonetheless, Dela Rosa joined Duterte in a petition earlier than the Supreme Courtroom to subject a brief restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to cease the nationwide authorities from aiding the ICC.
READ: Duterte, dela Rosa ask SC to cease gov’t from cooperating with ICC
Upon his arrival from Hong Kong on March 11 morning, Duterte was arrested by authorities on the Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport (Naia) and transferred to the neighboring Villamor Air Base.
It was there that Duterte was held for round 12 hours earlier than being flown out on a chartered flight to The Hague, the Netherlands to face the ICC.
Dela Rosa was not seen and was unreachable to the media throughout the ordeal.
The day after Duterte’s arrest, the reelectionist senator broke his silence, saying he was not hiding from authorities and was as a substitute “campaigning within the mountains of Surigao and Agusan.”
READ: ‘Hindi ako nagtatago’ – Sen. Bato dela Rosa
The warrant towards Duterte alleged crimes towards humanity dedicated from November 2011 to March 2019 in reference to the previous president’s bloody battle on medicine.
At the least 6,000 perished in Duterte’s anti-narcotics marketing campaign, based on authorities sources.
Nonetheless, human rights watchdogs estimated the loss of life toll is wherever between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019.
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Dela Rosa was Duterte’s first Philippine Nationwide Police (PNP) chief, instrumental in launching the nationwide marketing campaign towards unlawful medicine, touchdown him amongst a roster of officers named within the ICC case.
