MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The International Criminal Court (ICC) can do whatever it wants, Senator Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa said on Wednesday.
Finally breaking his silence, the senator responded to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra鈥檚 statement that the Philippine government could not stop the ICC鈥檚 prosecutor from interviewing suspects in the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ:
Dela Rosa and four other retired and incumbent police officers were tagged as suspects by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC.
READ: ICC prosecutor tags Bato dela Rosa, 4 PNP execs as 鈥榮uspects听
鈥淲e have no control over them,鈥� Dela Rosa said in an interview at the Senate. 鈥淜ung ano ang gusto nilang gawin, e 鈥榙i gawin nila.鈥�
(We have no control over them. If they want to do something, they might as well just do it.)
But no one from the ICC has reached out to him yet, the senator said.
鈥淲ala, wala (none),鈥� Dela Rosa said.
He was also unfazed by the reported request of the ICC prosecutor to put him under the International Police鈥檚 (Interpol) 鈥渂lue notice.鈥�
Interpol notices, according to its website, are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.
A blue notice seeks 鈥渢o collect additional information about a person鈥檚 identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know kung posible ba 鈥榶an. Nasa kanila lang 鈥榶an,鈥� Dela Rosa said of the said blue notice request.
(I don鈥檛 know if that鈥檚 possible. That鈥檚 up to them.)
When asked if he was still hoping the Philippine government would protect him from the ICC probe, the senator said, 鈥淪abi naman nila palagi noon (Like what they said before), investigating is one thing, or issuance of [a] warrant is one thing, and implementation of [a] warrant is another thing.鈥�
One thing is certain: Dela Rosa is not bothered by the latest actions of the ICC.
鈥淏akit ako maba-bother? Hayaan mo na sila. I鈥檓 not bothered. Hayaan mo sila, go ahead,鈥� he said.
(Why should I be bothered? Let them be. I鈥檓 not bothered. Let them be, go ahead)
As then police chief during Duterte鈥檚 administration, Dela Rosa was the chief implementer of Duterte鈥檚 ruthless war on illegal drugs.
READ: Dela Rosa admits rights abuses in 鈥榙rug war鈥�: Probe each case separately听