Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson clarified on Tuesday, November 3, that advocating for due process for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is not an attempt to shield him from facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Lacson explained that his stance centers on ensuring that dela Rosa can face the ICC without encountering violence or tragic outcomes during the Philippine government’s arrest procedures.
“To me, due process means allowing Senator dela Rosa to face trial before the ICC rather than risk violence and worse, tragedy,” Lacson said.
Lacson emphasized that due process is a fundamental right for every individual, including dela Rosa, who previously served under him in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).
Dela Rosa faces an ICC arrest warrant tied to the former Duterte administration’s war on drugs. He has also been labeled a fugitive by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), and carries a ₱50-million bounty.
Meanwhile, PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. dismissed proposals for a “shoot-to-kill” order when executing the warrant, reaffirming the police force’s commitment to lawful procedures.
“Our mandate is to enforce the law, not to take the law into our own hands,” Nartatez said.