Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday pointed to three reasons for his return to the Senate, citing the recent leadership change and preparations for a possible conversion of the chamber into an impeachment court.
In an interview with TV Patrol, Dela Rosa said the Senate had undergone a change in leadership, which he cited as one of the key factors of him showing up in the upper chamber after being missing in action for the last six months.
“Unang una nagkaroon ng change of leadership ang Senado (First of all, there was a change of leadership in the Senate),” he said, with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano assuming the Senate President post.
He also cited an impending institutional shift as senators prepare for the possibility of the chamber sitting as an impeachment court on the impeachment case againt Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Pangalawa meron kaming impending conversion ng (Secondly, we have the impending conversion of the) Senate into an impeachment court,” he said.
He also referenced personal criticism regarding his Senate attendance and compensation.
“I am hurt because they said I supposedly receive a salary without working,” he said. I am not shameless enough to keep receiving money without giving the corresponding effort.”
When asked to elaborate on the recent chase involving him and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation after he arrived at the Senate, Dela Rosa said the NBI failed to disclose the arrest warrant to him.
He explained that the agents tried to grab him after he left his vehicle in the parking lot. He stressed that the authorities did not read his Miranda rights or explain the arrest warrant during their interaction in the parking lot, which prompted him to run inside the Senate.
Moreover, the senator also said he plans to speak with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid concerns over possible developments related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
He said he expects government support and is prepared to accept whatever decision authorities may make regarding his custody or security.
“I am a Filipino, President Marcos is a Filipino, and he is our President. So, I think I deserve some support coming from this government,” Dela Rosa said.
