Sen. Robin Padilla publicly advised fellow lawmaker Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to resist surrendering to international authorities, as discussions circulated over the weekend about an alleged arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Padilla commented on the matter after former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, through a social media post, and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, in a radio interview, separately asserted that the ICC had already taken action against Dela Rosa. The senator has not appeared at the chamber since November 10.
Asked about communication with Dela Rosa, Padilla told reporters, “We have no contact with Senator Bato. He’s careful. He used to be a soldier/policeman, and he knows that our cell phones may be monitored.” He continued with a direct message to his colleague, saying, “My advice to him is to never surrender to a foreign power.”
Dela Rosa previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. The two have been facing accusations before the ICC related to the government’s anti-drug campaign, which rights groups claim led to thousands of deaths among suspected drug offenders.
Duterte has meanwhile been detained at the ICC headquarters in the Netherlands since March.
