Lawyer Jimmy Bondoc said he has no knowledge of the whereabouts of his client, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, following a request from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for him to disclose any information he may have on the senator’s location, who is subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
In a media forum addressing the DOJ, Bondoc stressed that he does not know where the senator is and does not wish to find out.
“Sinasabi ko na po ang totoo at ito po ay directed sa atin pong kagalang-galang na secretary ng DOJ [Fredderick Vida]: ‘Hindi ko po alam, hindi ko po nais alamin' At ito po ay galing sa puso naming kami ay makapagsilbi kay Senator Bato in a secluded and in a academic way para hindi ma-politicize yung aming pag-iisip sa kanyang mga legal defenses,” Bondoc said.
He also said that any questions regarding the senator may be directed to him, except inquiries about his location.
“Kung may mga tanong po kayo ukol kay Senator Bato, pwede niyo po itanong kahit ano po sa akin. Huwag lang po kung nasaan siya,” he added.
The DOJ earlier issued a formal request to Bondoc after he publicly claimed knowledge of dela Rosa’s whereabouts amid questions linked to a possible International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida said the department asked Bondoc to cooperate and provide any information in his possession that could help authorities locate the senator.
“To Atty. Jimmy Bondoc… I have directed the issuance of a formal letter request asking him to provide the department with any information in his possession or available to him regarding the whereabouts or information leading to the location of Senator dela Rosa,” Vida said in a press briefing on Tuesday, May 26.
Bondoc clarified that all his communications with the senator took place before the events of May 13, when a shooting incident in the Senate was reported, and the early hours of May 14, when dela Rosa reportedly left the chamber.
“Lahat po ng pag-uusap namin ni Sen. Bato ay nangyari before the May 13 and May 14 [incident] na madaling araw na kanyang pag-alis sa Senado. Napag-usapan namin ng buo ang kanyang legal strategy, kaya hindi na namin kailangan magconfirm at kung mayroon man kaming pag-uusap doon na po kanilang pamilya,” he said, adding that their legal strategy had already been fully discussed at that time.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said there is no record showing that dela Rosa has left the country, despite circulating speculation about his movements.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier described dela Rosa as “armed and dangerous” under law enforcement protocols as efforts continue to locate and arrest him in connection with the ICC warrant.
The senator is facing allegations of crimes against humanity linked to the anti-drug campaign during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, when he served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 2016 to 2018.
