Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is hoping and praying for due process for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and that, should his arrest take place, it will be carried out peacefully and without tragedy.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, Lacson stressed that due process is a fundamental right guaranteed to every human being, including dela Rosa.
In Filipino: Lacson Umaasa, Nanalangin para sa Mapayapang Pag-aresto at Due Process para kay ‘Bato’
“Senator Ronald dela Rosa is my Senate colleague, a former subordinate in the Philippine National Police, and a fellow Philippine Military Academy Cavalier. I sincerely hope and pray that should his arrest take place sooner or later, it will be carried out peacefully, without violence or tragedy,” Lacson posted.
“He (dela Rosa) has his faults, as we all do. But whatever accusations he faces, he is entitled to due process, a fundamental right guaranteed to every Filipino, and for that matter, to every human being,” he added.
Dela Rosa faces arrest under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. He went into hiding late last year after learning of the warrant.
He appeared at the Senate last May 11 to vote for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, but fled the Senate following a shooting incident inside the Senate premises last May 13.
On Friday, the government announced a P50-million bounty for dela Rosa while the Philippine National Police gave him one week to surrender. Dela Rosa’s lawyers questioned the legality of the reward.
In a radio interview Saturday, Lacson dismissed claims that the bounty and surrender ultimatum were timed to prevent dela Rosa from voting in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“Bunga lang ng malilikot na isip. As it is now, beyond the coercive power ng Senado. Yun nga yung naging ruling ng impeachment court, na yung mga hindi marating, hindi maabot ng coercive power, eh tinuturing na hindi kabilang doon sa denominator (It is just the product of overactive imaginations. As it is now, he is beyond the coercive power of the Senate. That was the ruling of the impeachment court: those who cannot be reached by its coercive power are not counted in the denominator),” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio.
“Ngayon naman, nagtatago siya, hindi rin naman talaga siya nagpa-participate. At kung magpa-participate siya, malamang o siguradong hulihin siya (Right now, he is in hiding, so he is not really participating anyway. And if he participates, he will likely, if not surely, be arrested),” he added.
Last month, the impeachment court ruled that the two-thirds vote for conviction would be based only on senators “legally and factually capable” of taking part in the trial. Excluded are, among others, those sought by authorities whose whereabouts are unknown.
Lacson also said he would like to believe authorities have solid information on dela Rosa’s whereabouts, but questioned the need for a bounty in that case.
“Kung alam na nila kinaroroonan, bakit kailangan pang magpatong ng P50 million na bounty (If they already know where he is, why put up a P50-million bounty)?” he asked.
*****
Lacson Umaasa, Nanalangin para sa Mapayapang Pag-aresto at Due Process para kay ‘Bato’
Umaasa at nananalangin si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na mabigyan ng due process si Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at, kung sakaling maaresto ito, na maging mapayapa ang pag-aresto at walang humantong sa trahedya.
Sa isang post sa kanyang X account nitong Linggo, iginiit ni Lacson na ang due process ay isang pangunahing karapatang ginagarantiyahan sa bawat tao, kabilang si Dela Rosa.
“Senator Ronald dela Rosa is my Senate colleague, a former subordinate in the Philippine National Police, and a fellow Philippine Military Academy Cavalier. I sincerely hope and pray that should his arrest take place sooner or later, it will be carried out peacefully, without violence or tragedy,” ani Lacson.
“He (dela Rosa) has his faults, as we all do. But whatever accusations he faces, he is entitled to due process, a fundamental right guaranteed to every Filipino, and for that matter, to every human being,” dagdag niya.
Nahaharap si Dela Rosa sa pag-aresto sa bisa ng warrant na inilabas ng International Criminal Court kaugnay ng giyera kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte. Nagtago siya noong huling bahagi ng nakaraang taon matapos malaman ang tungkol sa warrant.
Nagpakita siya sa Senado noong Mayo 11 upang bumoto para kay Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano bilang Senate president, ngunit tumakas sa Senado kasunod ng isang pamamaril sa loob ng Senado noong Mayo 13.
Noong Biyernes, inanunsyo ng pamahalaan ang ₱50-milyong pabuya para kay Dela Rosa, habang binigyan naman siya ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ng isang linggo upang sumuko. Kinuwestiyon ng mga abogado ni Dela Rosa ang legalidad ng pabuya.
Sa panayam sa radyo nitong Sabado, ibinasura ni Lacson ang mga pahayag na itinakda ang pabuya at ultimatum na sumuko si Dela Rosa upang pigilan siyang bumoto sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“Bunga lang ng malilikot na isip. As it is now, beyond the coercive power ng Senado. Yun nga yung naging ruling ng impeachment court, na yung mga hindi marating, hindi maabot ng coercive power, eh tinuturing na hindi kabilang doon sa denominator,” aniya sa panayam sa DWIZ radio.
“Ngayon naman, nagtatago siya, hindi rin naman talaga siya nagpa-participate. At kung magpa-participate siya, malamang o siguradong hulihin siya,” dagdag niya.
Noong nakaraang buwan, nagpasiya ang impeachment court na ibabatay lamang sa mga senador na “legally and factually capable” na lumahok sa paglilitis ang two-thirds vote na kailangan para mahatulan. Kabilang sa mga hindi isasama ang mga senador na hinahanap ng mga awtoridad ngunit hindi alam ang kinaroroonan.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na nais niyang maniwalang may matibay na impormasyon ang mga awtoridad tungkol sa kinaroroonan ni Dela Rosa, ngunit kinuwestiyon niya kung bakit kailangan pa ng pabuya kung alam na nila kung nasaan ito.
“Kung alam na nila kinaroroonan, bakit kailangan pang magpatong ng P50 million na bounty?” tanong niya.
*****
     |    |   |
