KARAPATAN urged the Senate not to give “protection” to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s henchman, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, after the latter said he will ask the Senate to refuse to surrender him to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“We urge the Senate not to coddle criminals, and let justice take its due course, this time, should the ICC arrest dela Rosa,” said Maria Sol Taule, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa also denied in a phone patch interview that he is in hiding after the arrest of and claims to be campaigning in the upland areas of Surigao and Agusan.
In a later post, Senator Bato said that should all legal remedies fail, he is willing to join “the old man” so authorities will not have to ferret him out of underground hideouts like they did erstwhile fugitive and Duterte ally Apollo Quiboloy.
“We could feel Bato’s knees shaking by now after the arrest of Duterte yesterday. He thought he will forever enjoy impunity, but the tables have turned quickly. He might as well enjoy the remaining days of his freedom because he is next to pay for his sins to the Filipino people, ” added Taule.
Senator Bato played a leading role in Duterte’s Drug war as the author of Oplan Tokhang and it’s various iterations like Oplan Double Barrel and has shown no remorse. He is reportedly one of five persons of interest that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had investigated for conspiring with Rodrigo Duterte to commit the mass murders that marked the former regime’s war on drugs. Mimicking his master’s arrogance, Senator Bato ignored the ICC’s requests for an interview.
“But now, the shit has hit the fan for the Duterte camp. Senator Bato’s name will likely be on the next warrants to be issued by the ICC, and we just can’t wait,” ended Taule.
