MANILA: Hiding from arresting officers is an option that Senator Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa (pic) is now considering.
Dela Rosa openly admitted this on Wednesday (March 19) in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.
Aside from seeking refuge in the Senate, Dela Rosa said he is also exploring other “courses of action” in case the Supreme Court issues a final ruling on his petition.
The senator has asked the high tribunal to stop the government from assisting the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drug.
Asked if hiding is one of his options, the senator answered in the affirmative.
“That is one of the things we are considering. That is included in the possible courses of action we can take,” he said.
Dela Rosa later explained why he is now considering hiding, when he earlier expressed his readiness to join former President Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague to face the crimes against humanity case lodged against him before the ICC.
As Duterte’s top cop then, Dela Rosa spearheaded the war on drugs that left thousands of people killed.
“If we can’t find justice in our own country, why would you surrender, right?” Dela Rosa said.
“We’ll see. If we find even a glimmer of hope - that the Supreme Court will truly stand by its independence and that the Senate will also take a firm stand - then I will evaluate. As I’ve said, I will cross the bridge when I get there,” he added.
Asked if it means he would stay longer in the Senate to avoid an arrest, Dea Rosa said: “Most likely.”
Although thinking of going into hiding, the senator made it clear that he would not resist arrest.
“How will you fight against the Philippine National Police? I know the power, the might of the Philippine National Police because I’ve been the chief of the PNP, I know how to do it. So why fight? It’s useless if you fight back,” he said.
It was just last week when the senator spoke about his readiness to join Duterte at the ICC prison so he could also take care of Duterte, who will turn 80 years old this month.
But Dela Rosa now doubts if he could take care of the former president, noting how difficult it is for Duterte’s own children to visit him at the Hague.
“Even his own child, Vice President Sara, cannot visit just like that,” he said.
“How much more if it’s me, when we are both detainees? How can I demand time to be together or ask, when we are both detainees? So it seems really difficult because of their experience there now, with those who are there now in The Hague,” the senator added. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
