Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Monday that if a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court is ever issued against Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, he can stay within the Senate premises until all the legal remedies have been exhausted.
Escudero made this statement after Bato said that he would seek protection from the Senate if a warrant were filed against him.
Escudero mentioned previous senators who then sought refuge in the Senate amid warrants of arrest issued against them.
“Ito’y ibat-ibang sitwasyong kinaharap ng Senado kung saan may kaso laban sa kanila at ang naging pasya ng Senado ay ito: Hindi nakabase sa batas pero nakabase sa tinatawag na institutional courtesy—hindi papayagan ng Senado [na] arestuhin ang sinomang miyembro niya sa loob ng Senado lalo na kung may sesyon,” Escudero told reporters.
“Ang isang sinabi ko sa kanya [One thing I told him], we will try to afford him every opportunity to avail of legal remedies that he is entitled to,” he added.