Dela Rosa: Senate should back PBBM’s stand on ICC jurisdiction

Senate building (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The pronouncement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines should be upheld by the Senate, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Tuesday.

Dela Rosa made the statement when asked to comment on the suggestion to provide the ICC a copy of the transcript from the first public hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee on the previous administration’s war on drugs.

“Giving in to their request is tantamount to recognizing their jurisdiction over us,” he said in a press briefing.

“Dapat iisa lang ang ating stand (Our stand should be united) as far as foreign policy is concerned, and we should take the cue from the President since sinabi ng President, being the Chief Architect of our foreign policy, sundin natin yung linya ng Pangulo (since it was declared by the President, being the Chief Architect of our foreign policy, we should follow the line of the President).”

In an earlier interview, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Senate is willing to provide a certified true copy of transcripts to those who would request it so long as they provide a valid reason or disclose how they would use it.

“Hindi naman pwedeng kung sinu-sino lang basta-basta nang walang dahilan at rason (It’s not possible for anyone to just request it without any reason),” Escudero said.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte attended the hearing and admitted, under oath, to some of the accusations hurled against him, including the existence of the “Davao Death Squad” (DDS), and Dela Rosa, as a former police director of Davao City, became one of its commanders.