Reelected Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa alleged on Friday that investigators from the International Criminal Court (ICC) are currently in the Philippines attempting to coerce former Philippine National Police (PNP) officials into signing affidavits implicating him and former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the controversial war on drugs.
Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during Duterte’s term, questioned President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s sincerity in seeking reconciliation with the Duterte family, saying the President should expel the ICC investigators if he truly meant it.
“If he’s really sincere about what he says, the first thing he should do is expel the ICC investigators who are currently staying in hotels in Pasay, intimidating retired police officers and forcing them to sign affidavits implicating me and President Duterte. Otherwise, they’re being told they’ll be the ones implicated,” Dela Rosa said.
The senator, who was reelected under the Duterte-led PDP-Laban faction, said he plans to initiate a Senate inquiry into the alleged activities of the ICC investigators.
“We will conduct a hearing, and those Filipinos who are betraying our sovereignty will be held accountable,” he said.
“We know the people involved—those summoning police officers to hotels and intimidating them. They’re being told that if they don’t sign the prepared affidavit, they will be the ones charged,” he added.
“The police are being put in a difficult position. The PNP should take care of its people,” Dela Rosa said.