Alan Peter Cayetano rallies behind Bato dela Rosa
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano defended Sen. Ronald Bato Dela Rosa, insisting that the latter wants to attend the Senate sessions.
It can be recalled that dela Rosa has not been attending the Senate since it was reported that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has an arrest warrant against him.
Cayetano insisted that it’s not the desire of Dela Rosa not to attend the Senate, based on the article in Balita.
“It is not by desire of Senator Bato na huwag siyang pumasok. That’s the difference,” the Senate Minority leader said.
Cayetano also said that there are reportedly threats against Dela Rosa, and there is no assurance from the government that his rights will be protected.
He pointed out that if someone doesn’t come for another reason, whether it’s business or laziness, but there’s also another reason, like illness, or official business, in Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s case, there’s a threat.
Cayetano said the Department of Justice (DOJ) statement that Dela Rosa had the right to run and follow the Supreme Court has become even more vague.
Despite this, the government still has the right to arrest Dela Rosa and send him to The Hague, Netherlands, if the International Criminal Court (ICC) actually has an arrest warrant against him.
“Then nag-announce ‘yong ICC na meron silang tinatawag na secret warrant. Hindi po ‘yon ‘yong ating Konstitusyon,” Cayetano said.
He stressed that only the Philippine court has the power to issue arrest warrants, so the ICC’s rumored arrest warrants should first go through the judges.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano also shared that he was able to talk to someone close to Dela Rosa, who said that he wanted to ensure his safety.
“I talk to someone very close to him, ang sabi, ‘Simple lang, Sir. Ma-assure lang kami ng Philippine government na may day in court siya dito sa Pilipinas. Kahit arestuhin siya dito sa Pilipinas,’” he said.
On the other hand, if Dela Rosa is brought to another country, he will stand against it.
