Flight from a lawful arrest warrant is itself a sign of guilt — that was the blunt assessment of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday, as he trained his criticism on former Philippine National Police chief and incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over the latter’s continued evasion of an International Criminal Court warrant.
Dela Rosa had recently made public statements thanking Remulla for allegedly tipping him off months in advance about the ICC warrant, which was issued in connection with alleged crimes against humanity arising from drug war killings during his time as PNP chief. Remulla’s remarks at a press conference Friday were framed as a direct rebuttal.
“Nagtataka ako sa kanya, naging chief PNP siya, tumatakbo siya sa batas. Humarap siya. Bakit niya ginugulo ‘yung mundo?” Remulla said.
He pressed further, questioning what it says about a sitting senator who refuses to face a legal process. “Managot ka sa iyong mga gawain. Sagutin mo. Kung wala ka talagang kasalanan, harapin mo. Anong klaseng tao ‘yan? Ganyan ba dapat senador natin? Tumatakbo sa batas?”
The warrant itself has been at the center of a rapidly escalating standoff. National Bureau of Investigation agents first attempted to serve it on Dela Rosa on May 11, but were unable to do so after he took refuge inside the Senate building. He subsequently participated in a Senate session where he joined 12 other legislators in voting for Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President — a move that led the Cayetano-led chamber to place Dela Rosa under its protective custody.
The situation grew more volatile Wednesday night when a shooting incident broke out inside the Senate compound, which had been placed on lockdown. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca confirmed he discharged warning shots at NBI agents, saying they had not complied with his order to lower their firearms — an incident that sent journalists and others in the building scrambling in fear.
By Thursday dawn, Dela Rosa had left the Senate premises alongside Senator Robin Padilla, according to Senate President Cayetano.
