Nelson Morales

'Huwag tatanga-tanga': ​Bato to surrender only if arrest warrant from local court

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA —Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday said he will avoid situations where he could get caught if authorities implement a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court. He earlier admitted he is considering to hide as he does not recognize the ICC&#x27;s jurisdiction over the Philippines.&quot;As much as possible, hindi na &#x27;ko magpapahuli,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/19/bato-shares-options-if-icc-goes-after-him-staying-in-senate-or-hiding-altogether-1456">&#x27;Bakit ka susuko?&#x27;: Bato mulls going into hiding from possible ICC arrest</a></div>&quot;Depende sa sitwasyon. Depende kung maipit ako, &#x27;di alangan naman pahuli ako. Pero pag hindi ako maipit, hindi ako mahuli,&quot; he said.Dela Rosa served as the police chief that led the enforcement of former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s bloody war on drugs. The latter is now detained at an ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands on a charge of crimes against humanity over alleged extrajudicial killings.The senator mentioned Duterte&#x27;s arrest whom he claimed was &quot;trapped&quot; and could no longer evade arrest.&quot;Kung maipit ako, &#x27;di ma-aresto nila ako. Pero kung hindi nila ako maipit, hindi nila ako ma-aresto. Kaya paano si President Duterte nasa tube pa lang &#x27;yun eh. Naipit na, paano pa siya mag-iwas?&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/13/bato-to-avail-of-senate-protection-in-case-icc-orders-his-arrest-1315">Bato to avail of &#x27;Senate protection&#x27; in case ICC orders his arrest</a></div>Dela Rosa said he would only accept being arrested if the warrant is issued by a Philippine court.&quot;Kung ang hawak nilang warrant of arrest ay issued by local court, &#x27;yan, pwede ako magpa-aresto. Pero kung hawak na ng warrant of arrest ay galing sa ICC, hindi ako magpa-arresto,&quot; he explained.Asked how he will make sure he won&#x27;t be arrested when situations become unlikely, he said, &quot;Huwag tatanga-tanga.&quot;<div>CHANGING STAND OVER SURRENDING TO ICC</div>Dela Rosa also cleared air as to why he changed decision on going to The Hague. He initially said he would be willing to<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/bato-ready-to-join-duterte-at-the-hague-if-all-legal-options-fail-1853"> &quot;join Duterte&quot; if all legal options fail.</a>&quot;I am ready to join the old man hoping that they would allow me to take care of him,&quot; he wrote in a Facebook post.But in a recent turn of events, the senator is insisting he won&#x27;t leave the Philippines and surrender to ICC.&quot;Ngayon tinanong ako bakit daw ako nagbago, nagbago ng stand. Eh bakit hindi ako pwede magbago? Nagbago nga si President Duterte. Nagbago nga siya ng stand, di ba? So bakit niyo ko-question kung magbago ako? Diskarte ko yan. President Marcos, nagbago nga si President Marcos ng stand, di ba?&quot; he said.<div>PRACTICING DISGUISE?</div>While saying he will continue his reelection bid, Dela Rosa joked about using disguises recently.&quot;Nag-cap-cap ako, nag-jacket ako, nag-mask-mask ako. Nakita ko lang isang tao doon sa Bicol. Sabi sa akin nung tao nagbi-benta doon sa Bicol ng kamote &#x27;kilala kita. Si Bato Ka, si Bato ka.&#x27; Sabi ko, &#x27;wala na, patay na&#x27;. Kaya napilitan to lang ko bumili ng tinitinda niya kamote. Dahil mag-iingay ba na nandun ako,&quot; he narrated.The senator meantime expressed doubts if President Marcos Jr. will heed some critics&#x27; calls to resign.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/15/dela-rosa-blasts-marcos-jr-in-prayer-rally-for-duterte-0038">Dela Rosa blasts Marcos Jr. in prayer rally for Duterte</a></div> &quot;Ewan ko lang kung makinig siya diyan. Makinig kaya siya diyan?&quot; he said.  &quot;Useless yan kasi hindi mo talaga yan [mapapababa].&quot;Dela Rosa also does not think he will get justice under the Marcos Jr. administration, citing how Duterte was surrendered to the ICC.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday said he will avoid situations where he could get caught if authorities implement a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday said he will avoid situations where he could get caught if authorities implement a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court.