Up to Dela Rosa to file ethics complaint over alleged plot to block him from session —Cayetano

Up to Dela Rosa to file ethics complaint over alleged plot to block session attendance Cayetano

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said an ethics complaint may be filed against some colleagues if a probe on Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s arrest-attempt shows a plot to stop him from attending the session. 

In a media briefing on Wednesday, May 13, Cayetano said the decision will be entirely up to Dela Rosa who was chased in the Senate premises as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents attempted to serve him a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

“That’s up to Sen. Bato dahil siya naman ang [because he’s the one] involved,” the Senate president said. 

Depending on what is revealed in the investigation, the Senate president said the alleged “plotting” to block Dela Rosa can be considered a “criminal offense” and would be referred to the ethics committee. 

“Possible, if the investigation shows that senators plotted to keep another senator from attending the session. That’s a criminal offense,” he said.

Cayetano said no one knew that Dela Rosa would show up to vote in the session to oust then Senate President Tito Sotto. 

He said he only confirmed Dela Rosa’s attendance Monday morning. 

Sotto earlier said the NBI informed him about a warrant for Dela Rosa, but he did not expect his colleague to show up on Monday after months of absence. 

Cayetano said not knowing Dela Rosa would be attending is “no excuse” for blocking him from entering the Senate premises. 

The ICC has issued a warrant of arrest against Dela Rosa for his stint as chief implementer of the controversial drug war during the Duterte administration.