MAMAMAYANG Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Percy Cendaña on Friday called for an independent investigation into the Senate’s handling of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, including his protective custody, later disappearance from the chamber and the events that triggered chaos inside the institution.
“Nakakalungkot at nakakagigil, at there has to be an investigation,” De Lima stressed.
Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war, had taken refuge in the Senate before reportedly leaving the premises after days of controversy over his protective custody and an attempt by authorities to serve or enforce an ICC-related warrant.
“Kailangan may investigation sa mga pangyayari yung nakaraang dalawa o tatlong araw sa Senado. Dahil nakakabahala, it’s very concerning, hindi dapat ’yan nangyayari sa isang institusyon like the Senate,” De Lima emphasized.
The call came as questions continued to mount over the Senate’s role in shielding Dela Rosa, the reported gunfire inside the Senate building and the effect of the leadership shake-up on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“And it has to be an independent investigation. Hindi puwedeng internal o hindi puwedeng ang Senado mismo ang mag-imbestiga,” De Lima pointed out.
De Lima argued that the Senate cannot credibly investigate itself because the controversy involves actions taken inside the chamber, including the decision to place Dela Rosa under protective custody.
“Kasi meron din dito, meron din dito sila na mga ginawa. Lalo na ‘yung pag-coddle, lalo na ‘yung pagbigay po ng protective custody,” De Lima stressed.
The former senator also raised the most immediate question left unanswered by Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate.
“And yun na nga, kung binigyan ng protective custody, bakit nakawala? So ang daming mga tanong na dapat sagutin sa isang tunay, isang independent na investigation,” De Lima added.
De Lima proposed that the probe be handled by credible investigators outside the Senate, given the institutional issues raised by the episode.
“Well, ang mga seasoned investigators and also mga retired members of Judiciary. Kasi it goes beyond the physical things that happened there,” De Lima explained.
“It goes into the very integrity, the very dignity of an institution like Senate, a democratic institution. So dapat yung talagang very credible na komposisyon ng mga mag-imbestiga,” De Lima noted.
De Lima also rejected the claim that an ICC warrant must first be converted into a local warrant before any action may be taken against Dela Rosa.
“Wala pong gano’ng requirement na kailangan muna ng isang warrant of arrest from a local court. This is a validly issued warrant of arrest by a tribunal, an international tribunal of competent jurisdiction,” De Lima stated.
She cited Republic Act No. 9851, which she said allows the state to surrender a person subject to investigation or prosecution before an international tribunal.
“Yung Republic Act 9851 na binibigyan ng estado ng karapatan na isurrender ang isang subject of investigation or prosecution sa isang international tribunal na sagsasagawa na ng investigation at trial, wala pong nakasabi doon na kailangan muna ng isang warrant of arrest galing sa isang domestic court,” De Lima clarified.
Cendaña, for his part, said the Senate’s credibility had already been damaged by the events of the past days and warned that further delay in the impeachment process would only deepen public disgust.
“Ito mga nangyayari itong nakaraang araw, nakakahiya na nga yung Senado. Mas ipapahiya pa nila yung sarili nila,” Cendaña pointed out.
“So to preserve the integrity of the Senate, there has to be a trial,” he added.
Cendaña accused Duterte allies of maneuvering inside the Senate to protect Dela Rosa while also trying to shield Vice President Duterte from accountability.
“Nakita natin kung paano nagmaniobra yung mga kampon ni Duterte para protektahan ang isang pugante. At the same time, alam naman natin ang ulterior motive ng lahat ng ito ay para protektahan si VP Sara Duterte,” Cendaña stressed.
“So we have here an institution of government that just coddles fugitives but also acts as a protector of those who violate the law and those who abuse power,” Cendaña added.
Cendaña also said the gunfire incident inside the Senate must be investigated to determine who set the events in motion and who benefited from them.
“Kinakailangan lumabas ’yan sa imbestigasyon pero sa dulo simple lang naman: Malalaman natin kung sino may pakana, kung sino ang pinaka-nakinabang,” Cendaña stated.
