Lacson: Due process for Dela Rosa does not mean shielding him from ICC

MANILA — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday, November 3 reiterated Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has the right to due process, but clarified that this does not mean shielding him from the International Criminal Court, which has ordered his arrest.

Dela Rosa, who has been in hiding since May, has questioned the validity of the warrant since it was not issued by a Philippine court.

He has argued, through lawyers, that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction after the country’s exit in 2019. The court has ruled that it has jurisdiction over alleged incidents before the exit.

“To me, due process means allowing Sen. dela Rosa to face trial before the ICC rather than risk violence and worse, tragedy,” Lacson said in a statement.

The ICC arrest warrant identified Dela Rosa as a “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte in relation to the War on Drugs.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla last month announced a P50-million reward for information leading to Dela Rosa’s arrest.

The former chief of the Philippine National Police, who Remulla said is under the protection of an armed group in Mindanao, was given until October 30 to surrender.