Palasyo, Makikipagtulungan Din Sa Interpol Sakaling May Warrant Of Arrest Na Rin Para Kay Bato Dela Rosa

Nilinaw ng Palasyo ng Malacañang na handa silang makipagtulungan sa International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) kung sakaling maglabas ng arrest warrant ang International Criminal Court (ICC) laban kay reelectionist Senator Bato dela Rosa.



 

Sa isang press briefing na isinagawa nitong Biyernes, Marso 14, 2025, ipinaliwanag ni Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro na walang pagpipilian ang Palasyo pagdating sa kanilang mga obligasyon sa Interpol. Ayon kay Castro, hindi sila maaaring pumili kung aling mga kaso ang kanilang pagtutulungan o hindi, sapagkat bahagi ito ng kanilang responsibilidad bilang isang bansa.

“Pareho pa rin po, hindi po kasi tayo puwedeng mamili. Kung ito po ay ginawa po at nakipag-coordinate, nakipagtulungan tayo sa Interpol, dahil ang dating Pangulo po ang subject po ng warrant of arrest, hindi po tayo puwedeng mamili, wala pong puwedeng special treatment,” ani Castro.

Ipinahayag niya na ang mga proseso ng gobyerno ay nakabase sa mga polisiya at hindi pwedeng may diskriminasyon sa mga indibidwal, anuman ang kanilang katayuan o posisyon sa lipunan.

Ipinagpatuloy pa ni Castro ang kanyang pahayag na kapag may mga kasong katulad nito, kung saan may mga valid na warrant of arrest na ipinag-utos at ipinagpatuloy ng ICC, ang gobyerno ay kailangang sundin ang mga nakatakdang proseso, na siyang magiging hakbang upang masigurado na ang batas ay nasusunod nang tama.

“Kung mangyayari po ‘to sa iba pang suspect na may warrant of arrest, basta valid po yung warrant of arrest at ito po ay nai-force thru the Interpol, gagawin pa rin po natin kung ano yung dapat pong gawin ng gobyerno,” dagdag pa ni Castro.

Tandaan na noong Martes, Marso 11, 2025, na-aresto si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa bisa ng isang warrant of arrest na inilabas ng International Criminal Court, kasama ang Interpol sa operasyon ng kanyang pag-aresto. Ang pagkaka-aresto kay Duterte ay isang malaking kaganapan sa kasaysayan ng bansa, at nagbigay daan para sa mas malalim na mga usapin ukol sa mga hakbang ng gobyerno at ang mga reaksyon mula sa mga kaalyado at kritiko ng dating Pangulo.

Ang pagpapalabas ng mga pahayag na ito ng Palasyo ay naglalayong linawin ang kanilang posisyon at ipakita ang kanilang pagtutok sa mga international obligations ng Pilipinas. Ang mga hakbang ng gobyerno ay nagpapakita na hindi nila tinitingnan ang mga kaso batay sa personal na interes o katayuan ng mga nasasangkot, kundi sa pagsunod sa batas at mga internasyonal na kasunduan.

Sa huli, ang mga pahayag mula kay Atty. Castro ay nagsisilbing paalala na ang mga prosesong ito ay nakasaad na sa mga umiiral na batas at hindi maaaring iwasan o baguhin, anuman ang personal na pananaw o opinyon ng mga nasa kapangyarihan.

Palace Will Cooperate with Interpol if an Arrest Warrant is Issued for Bato Dela Rosa

The Philippine Palace has confirmed that it will fully cooperate with international authorities, particularly Interpol, should an arrest warrant be issued for Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a key figure in the administration’s war on drugs. This announcement comes in the wake of growing international concerns about the human rights violations that occurred under the controversial drug campaign during Dela Rosa’s tenure as the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Dela Rosa, a former police chief, has been at the center of the global scrutiny surrounding the extrajudicial killings and other alleged abuses linked to the government’s anti-narcotics efforts. As part of the investigation initiated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the killings and human rights violations that took place during the war on drugs, there have been calls from human rights groups for accountability, including the potential prosecution of key officials involved.

The Palace’s commitment to cooperating with Interpol in this matter signifies the government’s willingness to adhere to international law should the ICC or other legal bodies issue any formal requests for Dela Rosa’s arrest. While the Palace has remained largely supportive of the former police chief and his role in the war on drugs, they have emphasized that the principle of due process will guide their actions. Should the case proceed, they have expressed their intention to ensure full cooperation with the legal procedures set forth by international authorities.

“We will respect the due process, and we will cooperate with any legal processes, including those by Interpol, if there’s an arrest warrant issued,” a Palace spokesperson stated. “As a government, we are committed to ensuring that due process is followed, and this extends to all levels of legal requests made by international bodies.”

The statement from the Palace comes at a time when the Philippines’ relationship with international institutions like the ICC remains tense. Former President Duterte’s administration withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, citing the court’s overreach into the country’s internal affairs, particularly regarding the investigation into the war on drugs. However, the ICC has maintained that it has jurisdiction over the case due to the gravity of the alleged crimes against humanity.

While Dela Rosa has defended the actions taken under his leadership, claiming that the war on drugs was a necessary initiative to address the country’s drug problem, critics argue that the campaign disproportionately targeted the poor and marginalized, with widespread reports of unlawful killings. The international community has called for accountability, and the prospect of an arrest warrant being issued for Dela Rosa is seen as a crucial moment in the ongoing struggle for justice for the victims of the war on drugs.

As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Philippine government will handle the case of Dela Rosa and whether it will ultimately comply with international law if Interpol or the ICC moves forward with a formal arrest request. What is clear is that the issue of accountability for the war on drugs is far from over, and this latest development could have significant implications for the Philippines’ relationship with the international community and its commitment to upholding human rights.