‘Bato’ dares Trillanes to join ICC for his, Duterte’s arrests

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday challenged former senator Antonio Trillanes IV to come along if agents of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest him and former president Rodrigo R. Duterte.

This, after Trillanes announced in a press conference that the Rome statute is set to issue a warrant of arrest against Dela Rosa, Duterte and others accused of human rights violations during the previous administration’s war on drugs.

“Go ahead! Make my day, Mr. Trillanes! Sabihan mo! Sige ka lang ngak-ngak nang ngak-ngak ng ICC. Kahit sumama ka pa [sa kanila] mag-serve ng warrant. Ikaw mismo ang magposas sa akin (Just say it! You just keep on babbling about ICC. You can come with them to serve the warrant. You handcuff me yourself),” Dela Rosa said during a press briefing at the Senate in Pasay City.

Dela Rosa also strongly denied the accusation of Trillanes that Duterte is the brains behind the “PDEA leaks.”

The Committee of Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which Dela Rosa chairs is investigating how supposedly confidential Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency documents were made public.

He said that as a former senator, Trillanes should know that no one should dictate any senator what to do.

“Nakita niya ba na inutusan ako? Hindi lang dini-deny, nakakahiya po ang statement na ‘yan na inutusan ako. Never po akong magpapagamit kahit kaninuman (Did he see that I was ordered? Not only do I deny it, but that statement that I was ordered is demeaning. Never would I let myself be used by anyone),” Dela Rosa said.

He reiterated that he will not support any destabilization plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“I want a stable government. I want a stable dispensation. Ayoko po na masira ‘yung ating gobyerno. Kung masira ang ating gobyerno, masisira din ang ating pamumuhay (I don’t want our government to be destroyed. If our government is destroyed, our lives will also be destroyed),” Dela Rosa said.