Lacson says hoping for peaceful arrest, due process for dela Rosa

MANILA — Sen. Ping Lacson said he is praying for due process for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and that, should his arrest take place.

Lacson added that he hopes that the arrest 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 the embattled 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,” said 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.”

Dela Rosa faces arrest under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. He subsequently went into hiding late last year after hearing the news about the warrant.

On May 11, Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate to vote for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, but fled the Senate two days later.

On Friday, the government announced a P50-million bounty for Dela Rosa even as the Philippine National Police gave him one week to surrender. Dela Rosa’s lawyers questioned the legality of the reward.

Lacson also dismissed claims that the bounty and surrender ultimatum were timed to prevent the beleaguered senator 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,” Lacson 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.”

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?” he asked.