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Senator Risa Hontiveros and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa during a Senate plenary session on August 1, 2022. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/Senate PRIB
MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to surrender to authorities, saying the situation should be resolved peacefully.
Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the alleged crime against humanity of murder stemming from the war on drugs.
“Ang panawagan diyan ay sumuko siya sa Philippine authorities at mag-seek ng lahat ng legal remedies sa ilalim ng Philippine Constitution, laws and rules,” Hontiveros said.
“At ganun pa rin ang aking panawagan sa kanya para dapat maresolba nang legal at mapayapa ang sitwasyong ito kasi sobra nang maraming na-damage na institusyon at yung buong bansa pa nga sa ganitong sitwasyon,” she said.
NBI teams monitoring 3 areas Bato Dela Rosa might be hiding
Hontiveros, along with Senators Vicente Sotto III, Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, and Bam Aquino filed Senate Resolution 395 urging Dela Rosa to “voluntarily surrender to the proper authorities and seek judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws and rules.”
Asked if this meant Dela Rosa should not be immediately brought to the ICC, Hontiveros said, “Depende sa gobyerno at depende rin sa kanyang mga legal moves vis-a-vis yung Philippine courts.”
“May nagsasabi na sa ilalim ng Rome Statute na operational sa Pilipinas hanggang 2019 at sa ilalim din ng mga batas ng Pilipinas pati yung ilan sa mga pinakabagong batas na may interpretasyon na pwede nang mag-desisyon ang gobyerno na ilipat siya dun sa ICC. Pero dahil merong judiciary dito na minsan o dalawang beses na niyang hiningian ng TRO, ibig sabihin may mga legal remedies pa dito sa Philippine judiciary,” she said.
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PIA CAYETANO
Hontiveros was also asked about her relationship with Sen. Pia Cayetano following the latter’s emotional outburst last week after Hontiveros said it seemed like nothing happened after the May 13 gunfire at the Senate.
Cayetano said no one from the old majority asked how they were during the mayhem. Minority senators have denied this.
“Hindi pa kami nakapag-usap as in usap pero nakita niyo naman nung pinarangalan namin yung mga archers, nagkataong magkatabi kaming nakatayo para sa photo. And nung nag-suspend at pumasok kami sa lounge para sa briefing tungkol sa impeachment trial nagkataon ding magkatabi kaming nakaupo. So, natural na makapag-usap or chat,” she shared.
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MAO APLASCA
Suspended acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca was once again seen in the Senate on Monday. He refused to answer questions aside from saying that he hasn’t faced the Philippine National Police — CIDG yet in relation to the investigation of the shooting incident.
He mentioned he might go to Davao for the wake of his mom.
Aplasca said he was at the Senate to check on members of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).
Hontiveros said she would think about what should be done regarding Aplasca’s regular appearance in the Senate despite being preventively suspended.
Asked if Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano should be held liable for the gunfire, Hontiveros said, it should be ascertained who were involved in the shooting.
“Bilang Senate President at bilang yung mga nasa liderato, there’s a collective responsibility involved there. And in the end gaya ng nasabi ko kanina, kami pong lahat din, kahit yung wala sa liderato ay kailangang managot at kailangang magtrabaho para ibalik yung tiwala ng mamamayan,” Hontiveros said.