Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Wednesday that he has changed his earlier plan to accompany former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands, citing restrictions on visits and detention arrangements there.
In an interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos, Dela Rosa explained that he initially wanted to go to The Hague out of concern and sympathy for Duterte following developments related to the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, he said he later learned that even visits to detainees are heavily restricted.
“Nagbago na dahil gusto kong samahan ‘yan dahil malungkot tayo dahil sa nangyari sa kanya,” dela Rosa said.
“Pero noong nalaman natin na ultimo pagbisita hindi basta basta makabisita doon kung hindi immediate family. At saka makulong ka doon, wala naman pala assurance na room visitation. Hindi mo alam kung saan ka ilagay, isolate kayo, so it depicts the purpose of my desire to be with him. Hindi ko rin siya makikita,” he added.
The senator also reiterated his opposition to being tried by a foreign tribunal, insisting that he should only face Philippine courts.
“Basta dito sa Pilipinas, I will be tried by the Philippine court and not a foreign court, walang problema ‘yan. Huwag lang tayo magpasakop sa mga dayuhan,” he said. “Bakit tayo magpapasakop sa mga banyaga na ‘yan. In fact, hindi na tayo miyembro ng ICC. We have no obligation to affect whatever warrant that they are issuing.”
Dela Rosa was previously identified by the ICC as a suspected “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case linked to Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, which is under ongoing investigation over alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) during the administration’s anti-illegal drugs operations.
Dela Rosa also confirmed that he remains under the Senate’s protective custody arrangement, which he said was extended through the initiative of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
He clarified, however, that the arrangement is temporary and meant to ensure that his legal rights are protected.
“Hindi naman ito forever, may hangganan ito, may [limitasyon]. Ang sinasabi lang niya sa akin, we have to assure you all your rights, including your right to avail of those legal remedies ay talagang babantayan namin sa Senate as an institution,” dela Rosa emphasized.
For now, the senator said he is awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on the temporary restraining order being sought by his camp.
“Hintayin natin ‘yung resulta ng Supreme Court, kung ano ang magiging desisyon nila. TRO [Temporary Restraining Order],” he said.
Dela Rosa also appealed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. not to allow him to be sent to The Hague, saying political differences should not prevent Filipinos from supporting one another.
“If you are in a dire situation, all you have to do is to be optimistic about all the things that you need to happen. ’Yun na lang talaga, after all, kahit na sabihin na magkalaban kami sa pulitika ngayon,” he said.
“Noon naman magkasama kami, habang kami nangampanya kasama kaming nag-ikot para mangampanya para sa kanila. Politics lang naman ito, after all siya Pilipino, ako Pilipino, kanino ka pa ba hihingi ng suporta sa dayuhan o pilipino? Sa Pilipino ka na manghihingi ng suporta lalong-lalo na sa pangulo ng Pilipinas dahil mandato ng ating gobyerno na protektahan lahat ng kanyang mga citizen,” dela Rosa added.
He stressed that it would only be natural for him to seek support from the Philippine government rather than from foreign states.
“Alangan namang humingi ako ng suporta sa government of China, government of the U.S.,” he said. “Eh di government of Pilipinas para protektahan ang aking mga karapatan.”
