Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa said he had an "intense" dialogue with a European Parliament member regarding the International Criminal Court's (ICC) resumption of the drug war probe.
Dela Rosa and Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino met the EU Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (EP DROI) during a closed-door meeting at Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
However, Dela Rosa walked out of the meeting and then presided over the Marawi rehabilitation hearing.
In an interview with the media after the hearings, Dela Rosa said he was displeased after the Spanish lawmaker questioned the resolution filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada strongly opposing the ICC probe.
"So, sabi ko, para bang masyado na itong nakikialam sa mga trabaho naming mga Senador dito," he said.
Dela Rosa said he reminded the Spanish EU lawmaker that the Philippines was "conquered, ruled, and enslaved by the Spaniards for more than three centuries, more than 300 years."
"Now that we have gained our freedom, our independence, we expect that other countries should respect our sovereignty," he added.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview, EU member Hannah Neumann clarified that the meeting was more "constructive" than "intense."
"Well, I think the position, especially of the EU Parliament, has been quite clear that we are deeply concerned about the extrajudicial killings happening in the war on drugs," she said.
Tolentino also clarified that there was no heated exchange between Bato and the EU members.
He explained that the interpreter only had to raise his voice in order to be heard as he translated the conversation.
"Wala namang taasan ng boses doon. I have to correct that. Maganda'yung dialogue. Nailabas natin 'yung EJK, pinaunawa natin na walang karapatan 'yung ICC. Pinauwa rin natin kung ano ginagawa natin sa lower house," Tolentino said.
