Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang rebuked Sen. Robin Padilla for publicly advising Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa not to surrender to a “foreign power,” saying such statements encourage defiance of the law amid unconfirmed reports of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remark after Padilla urged Dela Rosa to resist any possible ICC action. The Palace earlier said it had received no official notice of an ICC warrant against the former police chief.
“Kung mayroon silang alam, ‘di ipagbigay-alam nila sa lahat,” Castro said. [Translation: If they know something, then they should inform everyone.] She added the government has not received any confirmation of a warrant, and even the ICC “could not confirm” that one exists.
“So hintayin na lamang po natin kung talagang magkakaroon ng issuance ng warrant of arrest ang ICC,” she said. [Translation: So let’s just wait to see if the ICC actually issues a warrant of arrest.]
Palace: Padilla’s advice shows refusal to follow the law
Padilla earlier said Dela Rosa — who has been absent from Senate plenary sessions since Nov. 11 — should “never surrender to the foreign power.”
His comments came after former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Dela Rosa’s lawyer Israelito Torreon claimed to have information regarding an ICC warrant.
Asked whether the Palace views Padilla’s remarks as promoting non-cooperation, Castro responded bluntly.
“Ang mensaheng ganiyan ay nagpapakita lang ng mga taong ayaw sumunod sa batas,” she said. [Translation: Messages like that only show people who refuse to follow the law.]
“Kapag po may valid warrant of arrest, alam natin kung anong dapat gawin,” she added. [Translation: If there is a valid warrant of arrest, we all know what must be done.]
Castro stressed that people should not be advised to evade authorities. “Hindi po dapat ina-advise na magtago… Mas magandang ibigay natin na advice ay sumunod sa batas,” she said. [Translation: They should not be advised to hide… The better advice is to follow the law.]
Dela Rosa’s no-shows began after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla publicly said the ICC had issued a warrant related to the Duterte administration’s drug war, which Dela Rosa once oversaw as PNP chief.
