Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa could not describe his emotions after he was asked to give a reaction to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest earlier this week.
In a Balansyado exclusive on Thursday, Dela Rosa said, “Hindi ko ma-describe yung feeling. Gusto ko na lang umiyak. Gusto ko na lang umiyak sa sama ng loob. Wala akong magagawa. Anong magagawa ko, ayun na lang talaga.”
He added, “Helpless ako. Hanggang iyak na lang ako at dasal para sa ating [dating] Pangulong Duterte.”
The senator stood his ground and said the former president did not deserve to be arrested.
“After all ng kanyang paghihirap para gumanda ang Pilipinas, ganon ang gagawin natin sa kanya? I-tuturnover na lang natin sa foreign entity na walang jurisdiction sa atin? Sobrang betrayal ‘yan on our part,” he questioned.
Dela Rosa challenged those who supported Duterte’s arrest and said if the public wants to file cases against their camp, they should file it before the Philippine courts. Instead of seeking the help of the international court, Dela Rosa asserted that the courts here are always open.
‘Courts Are Always Open’
“Kasuhan niyo kami kung gusto niyo. Hindi naman natutulog ang korte natin. Wala naman korte na sarado sa Pilipinas. Open lahat ‘yan. They can file their case anytime if they have the goods. If they have the evidence, then they can file against us,” he said.
“Lahat naman tayo naghahanap ng hustisya. Kung ako ay taong, habol ko ay injustice, hindi na siguro ako nag-pulis. Baka nag-kriminal na lang ako ngayon o kaya nag-NPA ako, o kaya naging terorista ako,” he added.
“Kung injustice lang ang habol ko, ganon [na lang] ang gawin ko. Pero pulis ako. To serve and protect. Kung sila naghahanap ng hustisya, ako rin naghahanap ng hustisya,” he continued.
Despite this, the senator stated he is ready to face the allegations against him. However, he maintained that people should file the complaint before the Philippine Regional Trial Courts (RTC) or any court for that matter. Dela Rosa then questioned if they think the 6,000 cases up against them are all connected to the extrajudicial killings (EJKs).
“Anytime, anyone. Mag-file sila dito sa korte natin. Ang ginagawa nila kasi, doon talaga sa ICC kasi gusto non talaga [na] kasama na dyan propaganda at palakihin talaga masyado ang issue. ‘Yun ang ginagawa nila kasi alam nila, [na] kung mag-file sila dito sa RTC o anong korte, do you think yung 6,000 na cases na ‘yan puro ‘yan EJK?” he stressed.
“Magpaputol ako ng leeg kung puro EJK ‘yan. For all we know, baka iilan lang dyan ang mga ginagawa na kalokohan,” he added.
Earlier, Dela Rosa clarified why he did not fly to Hong Kong to attend the rally organized by the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Filing the Documents
He explained he had received information that a warrant of arrest from the ICC had been submitted against him and Duterte, before his flight. Instead of travelling to Hong Kong, he opted to stay in the country so that he could sort out the needed documents like the petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court (SC).
“Sabi ko hindi na ako hahabol dyan kasi paglabas ng warrant dapat nakapag-file tayo kaagad sa Supreme Court nung petition. [Kaya] cinoordinate ko yung lawyer ko at tsaka yung lawyer ni FPRRD,” he explained.
Moreover, he explained that he turned off his phone to focus on sorting the documents, as he received an influx of calls and messages on that day.
“In fact, hapon na nga namin natapos, na-file din doon sa Supreme Court. Then ‘yon, nadala na si [dating] Pangulong Duterte. Nabiyahe na. ‘Yun ang ginawa ko. So kung nagtatago ako, edi hindi niyo ako matawagan,” he said.
