PHBATO: FAILURE TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM ICC, INTERPOL IS IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa said a president's failure to protect citizens from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) constitutes an impeachable offense.
In a DWIZ radio interview on Saturday, January 25, Dela Rosa was asked whether he believed the government would shield him amid the ICC's investigation into the Duterte administration's war on drugs, which he led as the first Philippine National Police chief under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Well, it is the duty of the government to protect its citizens. Duty ng gobyerno 'yan. At kapag iyan ay pababayaan ng ating gobyerno, particularly ng chief executive – that is impeachable offense," Dela Rosa said.
He criticized any decision to allow entities like the ICC or Interpol to undermine the country's sovereignty, calling it a betrayal of duty.
"Hinayaan na lang niya na lapastanganin ang ating soberanya ng ibang entity like Interpol or ICC. Kung hayaan niya na hindi niya dipensahan ang kanyang mga kinasakupan, well alam mo na kung anong kahinatnan nyan. That's an impeachable offense," he added.
Dela Rosa also condemned Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin's recent statement that the government would "respond favorably or positively" if the ICC's arrest request is routed through Interpol. He claimed this contradicted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s earlier stance that the Philippines does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.
"You stick to the point that you are not recognizing the jurisdiction of ICC. Regardless kung Interpol, e messenger lang 'yan," he said, urging the government not to use Interpol as an excuse to cooperate with the ICC.
Dela Rosa went on to accuse the current administration of lacking direction and leadership.
"Tila itong gobyerno na ito ay leaderless. Hindi mo alam kung saan ang direksyon ng gobyerno na ito. Sino ang nagtitimon sa gobyernong ito?" he said, suggesting that Bersamin's statement contradicted the President's prior pronouncements.
Dela Rosa also called on Senate President Chiz Escudero to protect him and Senator Bong Go, who are both under ICC investigation.
"Depende yan sa magiging bayag ng aming Senate President kung gaano niya kami protektahan… kung sabihin nya 'no, our Congress is still in session, you cannot touch my people, you cannot touch my senators.' So kung panindigan niya yan, then well and good," Dela Rosa said.
Escudero previously declared that the arrest of any senator cannot take place in the Senate while it is in session.