• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Vice President Sara Duterte said on Tuesday she advised Senator Ronald De la Rosa to find an international law expert with International Criminal Court (ICC) experience amid reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against him.
Duterte, who led the distribution of relief goods to typhoon victims in Negros Occidental, said she has somebody to recommend – a British counsel based in England, who is an international law expert.
In an interview with reporters in Himamaylan City, Duterte admitted that she had a conversation with De la Rosa, as early as April, to prepare on how he could go about facing the possible ICC case.
“I told him that his preparation will start in choosing an international law expert and a lawyer who has an experience at the ICC to give him advice on what he needs to do,” the vice president said.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against De la Rosa, but the international court has yet to confirm this.
De la Rosa served as the Philippine National Police chief of then President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity.
The drug war campaign of Duterte left thousands of people dead from 2016 to 2022, according to reports.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said on Tuesday that De la Rosa cannot indefinitely use the Senate as a sanctuary if the ICC orders his arrest, stressing that any such protection is “limited” under the Constitution.
“Limited. Kasi ‘yung Constitution is very clear on the matter. First, kung less than six years ‘yung penalty, may immunity from arrest when Congress is in session. ‘Yun ‘yung mga limitations (Limited. Because the Constitution is very clear on the matter. First, if the penalty is less than six years, there is immunity from arrest when Congress is in session. That’s the limitation),” Lacson told reporters in an interview.
As of Tuesday, Lacson clarified that there has been no confirmation of an arrest warrant from ICC. | GB with PNA reports
