Bato on Marcos’ ICC stance: Failing to protect citizens is impeachable

Metro Manila, Philippines – A president’s failure to protect citizens and allowing foreign entities like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Interpol to infringe on the country’s sovereignty is an impeachable offense, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Saturday.

Dela Rosa made the statement when asked if he believed the government would protect him amid the ICC’s investigation into the bloody war on drugs, which he oversaw as the first Philippine National Police chief appointed by 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 in a DWIZ radio interview.

[Translation: Well, it is the duty of the government to protect its citizens. That’s the government’s duty. And if the government, particularly the chief executive, neglects this, that is an impeachable offense.]

“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.

[Translation: He just allowed other entities, like Interpol or the ICC, to trample on our sovereignty. If he lets this happen and fails to defend his people, well, you know what the outcome will be. That’s an impeachable offense.]

The Constitution lists the following as grounds for impeachment: culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

In the same radio interview, Dela Rosa criticized Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s statement that the government “will respond favorably or positively” if the ICC’s request to arrest an individual under investigation is routed through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Dela Rosa said this contradicts President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s earlier statements that the Philippines does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, but the tribunal stated that this does not prevent it from investigating crimes committed while the country was still a member.

“You stick to the point that you are not recognizing the jurisdiction of ICC. Regardless kung Interpol, e messenger lang 'yan (Regardless of whether it’s Interpol, it’s just a messenger)… Do not use Interpol as your scapegoat,” Dela Rosa said.

“Tila itong gobyerno na ito ay leaderless. Hindi mo alam kung saan ang direksyon ng gobyerno na ito. Sino ang nagtitimon sa gobyernong ito? Kasi tila, hindi na sinusunod yung pronouncement ng Pangulo na we will never recognize the jurisdiction of ICC,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: It seems like this government is leaderless. You don’t know the direction of this government. Who is steering this government? Because it seems that the President’s pronouncement, that we will never recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC, is no longer being followed.]

Dela Rosa said that if Bersamin was indeed speaking on behalf of Marcos, then the President is engaging in double talk.

Dela Rosa is counting on Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to stand for him and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who is also being investigated by the ICC as Duterte’s former aide.

“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. Salamat,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: It depends on the courage of our Senate President in how he will protect us... If he says, 'No, our Congress is still in session, you cannot touch my people, you cannot touch my senators.' So if he stands by that, then well and good. Thank you.]

Escudero previously stated that any arrest of a senator cannot take place in the Senate while the chamber is in session.