Malacañang rebuked Senator Robin Padilla for publicly urging his ally, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, not to surrender to a “foreign power,” describing such statements as encouraging defiance of the law.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the rebuke after Padilla made the remarks following unconfirmed reports of a International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against dela Rosa. The Palace said it has received no official notice of a warrant.
“Kung mayroon silang alam, ‘di ipagbigay-alam nila sa lahat,” Castro said. She noted that not even the ICC “could not confirm” the existence of a warrant.
“So hintayin na lamang po natin kung talagang magkakaroon ng issuance ng warrant of arrest ang ICC,” she added.
Castro also characterized Padilla’s message as reflecting those “who don’t want to follow the law.”
Padilla’s comments came after former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and dela Rosa’s legal counsel Israelito Torreon claimed to have information about a possible ICC warrant. Dela Rosa has reportedly been absent from Senate plenary sessions since November 11.