Metro Manila, Philippines – Senators facing arrest have been granted refuge within the Senate premises as authorities observe institutional courtesy, a privilege that will be extended to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa if ordered arrested by the International Criminal Court, the chamber’s leader said.
“Tradisyon ‘yan at rule ‘yan na bahagi na ng Senado dahil naging practice ng Senado bilang pagtatanggol nga sa institusyon at institutional courtesy,” Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said in a press conference on Monday, March 17.
[Translation: That is a tradition and rule that has become part of the Senate, as it has been a practice of the Senate to defend the institution and uphold institutional courtesy.]
He provided the media with a list of instances where the Senate protected its members from arrest, from then-Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was ordered arrested in 1990 for “rebellion complexed with murder.” Then-Senate President Jovito Salonga instructed Senate security to block National Bureau of Investigation personnel from entering the Senate. However, Enrile eventually surrendered to the NBI outside the Senate.
Former Senator Leila de Lima also spent a night in the Senate before surrendering to authorities for drug charges, which have since been dismissed.
Escudero pointed out that the longest stay within the Senate was by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who remained in his office for 25 days after his amnesty was revoked by then President Duterte. He left when a local court deferred the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
Escudero expressed confidence that, like his predecessors, Dela Rosa would surrender to authorities once he has exhausted all legal remedies in connection with his potential detention by the ICC for his role in the controversial drug war as former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
“Ang sinabi ko sa kanya, we will try to afford him every opportunity to avail of legal remedies that he is entitled to [I’ve told him that we will try to afford him every opportunity to avail of the legal remedies he is entitled to],” Escudero said.
“Hindi naman sa habang panahon. Hangga’t mabigyan siya ng sapat na panahon na magkaroon ng linaw o pagpapasya yung kanyang judicial remedies [It will not be forever. As long as he is given enough time to clarify or resolve his judicial remedies],” he added.
Dela Rosa earlier said he is ready to join Duterte at the ICC detention center but would like more time as a free man to work on their petition urging the Supreme Court to stop the government from cooperating with the ICC and to order the release of those arrested in connection with the international tribunal’s probe.
Escudero said if this petition is granted, it would be binding not on the ICC, but on the government to implement the Supreme Court ruling.
