“Hindi dapat gawing hideout ng kriminal ang Senado. Isang malaking kahihiyan kung ang isang institusyong dapat nagtataguyod ng hustisya ay gagamitin bilang taguan ng mga umiiwas sa pananagutan,” senatorial candidate and Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said in response to Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s plea for the Senate to protect him.
In the thick of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and transfer to The Hague, in the Netherlands, Dela Rosa has requested for Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s protection should the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue a warrant of arrest against him.
However, lawmakers took a stand against the senator’s plea, insisting the Senate must uphold its integrity and refuse to shelter those facing serious charges of crimes against humanity.
“When he was PNP chief, he used his position to orchestrate the killings of poor Filipinos under the bloody war on drugs. Now, he wants to hide behind his Senate seat to escape accountability,” Brosas recalled in a social media post on Thursday.
Additionally, Brosas mentioned how Dela Rosa boldly challenged the ICC a few days ago but has now backpedalled after realizing that accountability had caught up to him.
“Just a few days ago, he boldly challenged the ICC with “bring it on” and even said he was ready to join and take care of Duterte in jail. But now that accountability is catching up to him, especially after Duterte’s arrest, he’s suddenly trembling in fear and scrambling for Senate protection,” she stressed.
Brosas then challenged Dela Rosa to face the ICC instead of using his political privilege to his advantage.
“The law applies to everyone. Unlike the thousands of poor Filipinos who were executed without trial, Dela Rosa still has the chance to defend himself in court. He should face justice instead of expecting special treatment,” she ended her statement.
Meanwhile, the report by RH 12 Milky Rigonan mentioned that Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel echoed Brosas’ sentiments on using the Senate as a “hideout” to avoid his arrest.
The lawmaker cited Article 6 Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, stating the Senate can only protect its members from being arrested while it is in session. However, Manuel questioned, “Eh di ba ayaw ng Senado na mag-sesyon hanggang Hunyo?”
Duterte is now in the custody of the ICC and is being held at the Scheveningen detention facility. He is set to appear before the pre-trial Chamber I of the ICC on Friday.
