Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has warned that fugitive senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa could face greater risk of arrest if he seeks asylum abroad, citing the nature of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Lacson explained that an ICC arrest order limits a suspect’s ability to evade authorities overseas, unlike a locally issued warrant that might allow a fugitive to seek refuge in a country without an extradition treaty. “If he goes overseas, he’s more exposed, he could be easily captured. If his warrant came from the Philippines, he can go to a country that had no extradition treaty and has a long process for the application of asylum,” Lacson said. “But if your warrant is from the ICC, you can’t go anywhere, you’re safer here in the Philippines,” he added. The comments come amid intensified efforts by Philippine law‑enforcement agencies to serve the ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, who is alleged to have been involved in crimes against humanity related to former President Rodrigo Duterte. Dela Rosa was last seen publicly in the Senate on 14 May, when he was seen hitching a ride from fellow senator Robin Padilla before being dropped off at an undisclosed location in Makati City. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has said that intelligence indicates Dela Rosa is in Mindanao, protected by an armed group. Remulla warned that an arrest operation could be violent and potentially result in significant casualties. A reward of ₱50 million has been offered for information that leads to Dela Rosa’s exact whereabouts. Lacson and other lawmakers have called for any arrest attempt to be conducted peacefully and for Dela Rosa to be afforded due process. Lacson rejected criticism that granting due process to the former Philippine National Police chief would be ironic, given that victims of extrajudicial killings were denied such rights. “Please don’t take the call for due process in the wrong way. Just because EJK victims were not afforded with due process, we would want there to be no due process for Senator Bato. That outlook seems wrong,” he said.
Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune