Cayetano warns alleged plot vs. Dela Rosa may trigger criminal raps

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said an alleged plot to prevent Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa from attending Monday’s Senate session could trigger ethics and possible criminal complaints if proven true.

In a press briefing, Cayetano said the issue may be referred from the Committee on Rules and Public Order to the Senate Committee on Ethics following allegations that efforts were made to stop Dela Rosa from entering the Senate during the leadership transition that installed him as Senate President.

“If the investigation shows that senators plotted to keep another senator from attending the session, that’s a criminal offense,” he said.

He also criticized a resolution filed by several senators urging Dela Rosa to surrender and seek legal remedies over the reported International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him.

Cayetano said Dela Rosa, like any Filipino, should first be allowed to exhaust all available legal remedies before any surrender.

“Pag na-exhaust lahat, then of course, we will surrender them. Usually, the senators themselves surrender themselves (Once all remedies are exhausted, then of course we will surrender them. Usually, senators voluntarily surrender themselves),” he said.

Cayetano also maintained that the reported ICC warrant remains a foreign warrant whose validity has yet to be settled by Philippine courts.

Not involved

Meanwhile, Senator Pia Cayetano denied claims that her vehicle was used to bring Dela Rosa into the Senate complex during Monday’s leadership transition.

“Let me state this clearly and unequivocally. That statement is false,” she said in plenary, referring to Senator Panfilo Lacson’s earlier public statement.

Pia Cayetano said she did not know Dela Rosa was arriving at the Senate that day.

Lacson later apologized on the Senate floor, saying the information came from what he believed was a “fairly reliable source.”

“If that was a mistake, then I sincerely apologize,” Lacson said.

Senate President Cayetano accepted the apology and said he would no longer refer to his sister’s manifestation to any Senate committee.