Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa made it very clear—if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant against him, he will not surrender.
“I won’t let them catch me. I won’t go with them. I won’t let them take me,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview on Saturday.
He Won’t Leave the Philippines
Despite the possible arrest, Dela Rosa assured everyone that he has no plans of running away or fleeing the country.
“I won’t leave my comfort zone. My comfort zone is the Philippines. Why would I go to another country? This is where I was born. This is where I will die,” he firmly stated.
Dela Rosa’s strong words come after the shocking arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The former leader is now facing serious accusations of crimes against humanity linked to the thousands of deaths during his war on drugs.
During Duterte’s presidency, Dela Rosa served as the Chief of Police and played a key role in enforcing the controversial anti-drug campaign.
ICC Mentions Dela Rosa’s Name in Duterte’s Case
The ICC has reportedly identified nine other individuals involved in the case against Duterte. However, their names were not revealed in the documents. But one thing was clear—Dela Rosa’s name was specifically mentioned in the arrest warrant.
Claims of “Injustice”
Some people, including Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, have criticized Dela Rosa for saying he won’t surrender. But the senator defended his decision, claiming there is “injustice” in how Duterte was treated.
“If you see injustice happening, would you just surrender? What I’m doing might not be good, but is what they are doing good for our country? Arresting Duterte and bringing him to The Hague—does that help our country?” Dela Rosa questioned.
Calls Out CIDG Chief Torre
Dela Rosa also took aim at Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the officer who led Duterte’s arrest.
“General Torre is drunk with power. The way he acts, it’s as if his power will last forever. But nothing lasts forever in this world,” Dela Rosa said.
Torre, on the other hand, denied any wrongdoing. He said Duterte was treated fairly when he was taken into custody at Villamor Air Base.
“He was never deprived of legal counsel, his medicine, or food. Everything he needed was provided,” Torre assured.
As the situation unfolds, many are wondering—will Dela Rosa continue to stand firm, or will things take a different turn?
