Bato to Senate: Reject transcript requests for ICC probe

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa called on the Senate leadership to withhold from the International Criminal Court (ICC) the official transcript of the nine-hour hearing on the war on drugs, which he initially led as top cop under the previous administration.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Dela Rosa questioned Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s earlier expression of openness to a possible request from the ICC.

Asked about giving a certified true copy of the transcript to the ICC, Escudero said, “Kung may mag request, na valid ang rason para i-request, hindi mag-aatabuli ang Senado na mag certify ng kopya ng transcript ng hearing na isinagawa kaugnay sa EJKs pero syempre hindi naman pwedeng kung sinu-sino lang, basta-basta ng walang dahilan at rason.”

[Translation: If there is a request, and the reason for the request is valid, the Senate will not hesitate to certify a copy of the transcript of the hearing conducted in relation to the EJKs. But of course, it can't be just anyone requesting without any valid reason or justification.]

Dela Rosa said Escudero should clarify the purpose of any request, arguing that granting requests related to the ICC investigation on the drug war would contradict Malacañang’s position that the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

“At pag sinabing para sa ICC, dapat sabihin sana niya na - ‘No, giving this copy to ICC is tantamount to recognizing their jurisdiction over us,’” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: And when it’s said that it’s for the ICC, he should have said - “No, giving this copy to the ICC is tantamount to recognizing their jurisdiction over us.”]

“Hindi porque ako'y isa sa akusado sa ICC ay ganoon ang aking stand. Pero tinitingnan ko lang from that point of view na dapat iisa lang ang ating line, ang ating stand as far as foreign policy is concerned and we should take the cue from the president,” he added.

[Translation: It's not because I am one of the accused in the ICC that I hold this position. I’m just looking at it from that point of view that our line, our stand should be consistent, especially when it comes to foreign policy, and we should align with the president's position.]

During the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee’s first hearing on the bloody war on drugs on Oct. 28, former President Rodrigo Duterte admitted to ordering the police to encourage criminals to fight back and to having his own "death squad." While Duterte’s allies suggested he may have been joking, Escudero and other senators pointed out that his statements were made under oath.

Dela Rosa said Duterte may no longer need to be summoned for the next hearing, scheduled for mid-November, unless new accusations are raised against him.