Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero agreed to protect Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa amidst the possibility of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the latter.
“Nag-usap na kami and he is willing to protect me. As one of the members of [the Senate], obligado siyang protektahan kami bilang Senate President. He has to stand his ground,” Dela Rosa said in a Balansyado exclusive on Thursday.
According to the senator, he trusts the words of Escudero as they have discussed it as colleagues and as senators.
“Yes, pareho kaming lalaki. Usapang lalaki ‘yan at usapang colleague [at] kapwa senador,” he said.
Meanwhile, House leaders slammed Dela Rosa’s plea for Senate’s protection, calling him out for backpedalling and using political privilege to his advantage.
In a statement, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said “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.”
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel echoed this sentiment, adding that Article 6 Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution indicates that the Senate can only protect its members from being arrested while it is in session.
The Senate adjourned its session last February and will resume duties in June.
