Ombudsman Boying Remulla on Friday slammed Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s decision to flee the Senate compound to evade an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, calling out the irony of a former top cop running from the law.
The former Justice Secretary’s remarks followed reports that Dela Rosa, accompanied by Senator Robin Padilla, slipped out of the Senate at 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
The senator’s wife, Nancy, characterized the departure as an “escape” that took advantage of the confusion following a shooting incident at the complex.
Remulla did not mince words regarding the former Philippine National Police chief’s conduct.
“Nagtataka ako sa kanya, naging chief PNP siya, tumatakbo siya sa batas. Humarap siya! Bakit niya ginugulo ‘yung mundo, managot ka sa mga gawain.”
Dela Rosa had been under Senate protective custody since Monday to avoid the Hague-based tribunal’s warrant. The ICC charges him with the crime against humanity of murder, linked to at least 32 deaths during his leadership of the drug war between 2016 and 2018.
Remulla reminded the public official that his actions could be used against him in a court of law.
“Managot siya, harapin niya lang ang mga paratang at sagutin niya nang maayos kung wala talaga siyang kasalanan. Flight is an indication of guilt. That’s a very basic tenet of criminal law. Flight is an indication of guilt.”
While Dela Rosa remains a principal architect of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign—a program tied to thousands of deaths—his recent disappearance from the Senate adds a new layer of legal and political turmoil to his standing.