MANILA, Philippines – Iginiit ng PDP na ang pananatili ni Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa sa Senado ay “hindi detention,” at iginiit na “hindi valid” ang arrest warrant na inilabas ng International Criminal Court (ICC).
Ayon kay PDP national spokesperson Raul Lambino, boluntaryong humiling si Dela Rosa ng protective custody sa Senado at hindi dapat ituring na nasa ilalim ng detensyon.
“Last Monday, he made a decision to go to the Senate and sought protective custody. So let’s make a big difference between protection and detention. So his stay in the Senate was not considered a detention,” ani Lambino sa panayam sa ANC’s Headstart.
“He was not restrained of his liberty. He was a free man, and he is a free man, because we have been saying that the arrest warrant, if one was already issued by the ICC, is not valid,” dagdag niya.
Kinumpirma naman ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na umalis si Dela Rosa sa Senado bandang 2:30 a.m. noong Huwebes, ilang oras matapos marinig ang putukan sa loob ng gusali habang nasa protective custody siya.
Ang pag-alis ni Dela Rosa ay sinundan ng mga alegasyon na maaaring ginamit ang insidente ng putukan bilang diversion, na agad namang itinanggi ng kanyang legal counsel.
Ayon sa ICC warrant, si Dela Rosa ay tinukoy bilang “indirect co-perpetrator” kaugnay ng mga krimen laban sa sangkatauhan na may kinalaman sa war on drugs ng administrasyong Duterte.
Giit ni Lambino, walang bisa ang warrant kung walang lokal na utos mula sa hukuman sa Pilipinas at hindi ito maaaring maging batayan ng pagpapatupad ng mga awtoridad.
“It cannot be used as basis for our law enforcement agencies, because what is needed is an arrest warrant to be issued by our regular courts,” ani Lambino.
Dagdag pa niya, wala pang kasong lokal na naihahain laban kay Dela Rosa, ngunit may karapatan umano itong humingi ng proteksyon.
“You cannot blame him. His life is in danger. His liberty is also in danger. And so he has to leave the premises,” dagdag niya.
Sa kasalukuyan, wala pang opisyal na impormasyon sa kinaroroonan ng senador. RNT
