SENATOR Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was absent during the resumption of the plenary session at the Senate on Tuesday.
During the roll call, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III noted that 20 out of 24 senators were present. Aside from Dela Rosa, Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Camille Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri were absent.
Dela Rosa’s absence from the session came after the announcement of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla over the weekend that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued an arrest warrant against him.
Both the ICC and the Department of Justice (DOJ), however, have yet to confirm Remulla’s claim.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Dela Rosa would not undergo the same process as former President Rodrigo Duterte, wherein the Philippine National Police and Philippine authorities cooperated to act on a notice from the Interpol.
The DOJ has emphasized that the Philippines will carry out an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa if the ICC issues it.
GMA News Online asked Dela Rosa’s office about the reason for his absence, but it has yet to provide a response as of posting time.
Sotto and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday they have yet to speak with Dela Rosa amid the alleged issuance of an arrest warrant against him.
Asked if he maintains his position that the upper chamber will not allow the arrest of a senator within its premises, Sotto said, “Lalo na kapag nagse-session. ‘Yun ang pinaka-bawal sa lahat ‘di ba, habang nagse-session, may darating, aarestuhin ‘yung senador. Hindi kami papayag.”
Dela Rosa’s counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon, in an earlier statement, said his client’s camp has yet to get official information on the alleged ICC warrant.
“If proven true, we trust that the Philippine Government will act in accordance with the rule of law, and that any such action shall first pass through the proper local judicial confirmation process consistent with our Constitution, due process, and the sovereign rights of the Republic of the Philippines,” Torreon said.
