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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
After months of hiding from the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid reports of a warrant for his arrest, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa surfaced at the Senate, triggering a series of chaotic events that led to gunshots being fired within the chamber’s premises. Less than three days after appearing, Dela Rosa escaped from the Senate, with his whereabouts currently unknown.
Dela Rosa is now confirmed to be facing an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity charges in relation to the drug war of Rodrigo Duterte, whom he had served as Philippine police chief. The Department of Justice has said that the Philippine government can surrender suspects to international courts, based on local law.
On this page, we bring you the latest updates, videos, photos, and reactions to Dela Rosa’s attempt to evade the ICC, the tensions at the Senate, and the wider political fallout from the saga.
LATEST UPDATES
NBI: We’ll arrest Dela Rosa without delay
In a statement on Thursday, May 21, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said his bureau “has been consistent in its position” that Dela Rosa must be arrested through the ICC warrant. Matibag added that the NBI will follow Vida’s order to implement the said warrant.
“The order is to arrest Senator Dela Rosa, so we’ll do so without delay,” said Matibag. “In carrying out the arrest, we will strictly abide by the rules and ensure it is done professionally, as we always do. Fugitive Senator Dela Rosa will be arrested whether he likes it or not because we have to implement the law without fear or favor,” he added.
Dela Rosa’s attendance at May 18 Senate session ‘uncertain’
Senator Bato dela Rosa’s lawyer, Jimmy Bondoc, said he is not sure if the senator will attend the upper chamber’s session on Monday, May 18. Bondoc also said he is not aware of Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.
On Monday afternoon, the Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate receives Ombudsman’s suspension order on Aplasca
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed on Monday, May 18, that the Senate accepted the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension order against Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, as well as the subpoena for the CCTV footage of the May 13 Senate shooting incident.
“We got confirmation that both were received by the Senate secretariat,” Clavano said.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Saturday, May 16, that the Senate had refused to accept the preventive suspension order but that it was good as served. The suspension is for a period of not more than six months.
Aplasca has admitted he was the first to fire a warning shot in the exchange of fire between Senate security and National Bureau of Investigation personnel who were in the adjacent GSIS complex on May 13.
[Dash of SAS] The crumbling of Duterte’s authoritarian masculinity
“The CCTV footage of former Philippine National Police chief and Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa tripping over his own feet as he tried to outrun the authorities out to arrest him is now a meme, a punchline, and a breaking news clip.
“Some Filipinos could not help but laugh at the spectacle that the former police chief had been reduced to. Some sneered. Some were outraged. The rest of the world was shocked to witness a public official caught between a bad action movie and a satire of his own making.”
Read more in this opinion piece by Ana P. Santos.
SolGen asks SC to deny Bato’s plea to block ICC warrant
The Office of the Solicitor General asked the Supreme Court to reject Senator Bato dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order against the International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
It argued that the senator’s actions are “consistent with those of a fugitive from justice.”
Here is the full story.
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Credit belongs to : www.rappler.com
