Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday defended his decision to evade arrest in the Senate, saying he had changed his earlier position on facing the International Criminal Court (ICC) after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly assured him that the government would not allow the foreign tribunal to operate in the country.
Dela Rosa made the statement after drawing criticism online over his apparent reversal from earlier remarks that he was ready to face the ICC. He had also previously challenged former senator Antonio Trillanes IV to join the arresting team should a warrant be served against him.
The senator, however, acted differently on Monday when agents of the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to serve the ICC arrest warrant on him at the Senate, leading to a chase inside the chamber’s premises.
In an interview, Dela Rosa said his earlier defiant stance was based on Marcos’ supposed assurance that neither he nor former President Rodrigo Duterte would be surrendered to the ICC.
“Kasi noon naman binigyan ako ng assurance ni Pangulong Marcos na never kami ni President Duterte pagkakanulo niya sa ICC. Sabi niya sa akin dalawang beses, na huwag kang maniwala diyan, Bato, hindi ko papapasukin ang ICC dito dahil wala yan jurisdiction sa atin. Hindi tayo member ng ICC. Hindi kayo magagalaw ng ICC,” Dela Rosa said.
He said he had been confident before because he believed the Philippine government would not cooperate with the ICC.
“So ganon katapang ang aking stance noon dahil alam ko ang stance ng Philippine government is not to cooperate with ICC. Pero ngayon bumaligtad, ipinagkanulo na yung Pangulong Duterte doon sa kanila. So, alangan namang magtapang-tapangan pa rin ako, na hahamunin ko si President BBM na, sige, i-surrender niyo ako doon,” he added.
Dela Rosa said he would rather be called a coward than a fool for allowing himself to be arrested on the basis of an ICC warrant.
“Well, that’s basic human instinct. Sino ba namang tanga ang gustong magpahuli? Sabihin na lang niyo ako na ako ay duwag, okay lang. Pero hindi ko matanggap na sabihin niyo na ako ay tanga na magpapahuli,” he said.
He described the incident at the Senate stairs as an act of “self-preservation.”
“Kaya yung nangyari sa hagdanan eh run for your life yun,” Dela Rosa said.
The senator admitted that the incident may have affected his dignity as a sitting senator and former Philippine National Police chief, but maintained that surrendering without exhausting legal remedies would have been worse.
“Pero mas mababa ang dignidad mo kung ikaw ay tanga na magpapahuli,” he said.
Dela Rosa also addressed his critics, saying they were entitled to their opinion but might have acted the same way if placed in his situation.
“I would like to tell those bashers na you are entitled to your own opinion, pero kapag kayo ang nalagay sa aking kinakasadlakan ngayon, I don’t think hindi niyo gagawin ang ginawa ko,” he added.
While admitting that he may now appear to have gone back on his earlier statements, Dela Rosa said he would not surrender to the ICC without first using all available legal remedies.
He also said he was not bothered that the Senate may be criticized for placing him under protective custody, saying he was following the advice of those urging him not to submit to a foreign jurisdiction.