ICC ARREST WARRANT VS SEN. BATO VALID AFTER SC DENIES TRO – PALACE

THE Palace has said the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa is valid after the Supreme Court denied the lawmaker’s request for temporary legal protection against a potential arrest.

“Sa ngayon, masasabi natin na ang warrant of arrest ay valid laban dito kay Sen. Bato dela Rosa,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer attorney Claire Castro said in an interview in Malacañang on Wednesday.

“At ang lahat ng maaaring interpretasyon at evaluation sa nasabing resolution ng Supreme Court ay ibabato natin kay (DOJ) Secretary Fredderick Vida,” Castro added.

Asked for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s reaction to the video showing dela Rosa leaving the Senate building with Sen. Robin Padilla, Castro said the President seeks accountability for wrongdoers.

“Alam natin na ang mga tao na dapat na may panagutan, ‘yan din ang ayon sa Pangulo ay dapat na managot,” said Castro.

“Kung wala namang kasalanan ay kailangan ma-clear ang kanilang mga pangalan,” the Palace Press Officer added.

She said that while the Palace is not in a position to determine whether dela Rosa’s actions may be construed as evading the Senate premises, the President’s view is that such conduct is not appropriate.