In a recent statement, Vice President Sara Duterte backed Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, emphasizing that arrest warrants issued by foreign entities like the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be validated by Philippine courts.
During her May 11 visit to the Filipino community in The Hague, Duterte expressed her concerns regarding the ICC's reported warrant against dela Rosa. She labeled the attempt to execute the warrant as inappropriate, noting that it mirrors the actions taken against her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte stated, "A warrant of arrest coming from outside the Philippines, which was not issued by a Philippine court, should be presented in a Philippine court."
The ICC had confirmed the authenticity of the warrant for dela Rosa, who prosecutors have linked to alleged crimes against humanity during the controversial drug war under the Duterte administration.
Following the attempts to serve the warrant, dela Rosa was placed under protective custody by the Senate. This move came after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents allegedly tried to prevent him from entering the Senate session.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has indicated that only warrants from Philippine courts would be recognized in the Senate.
When asked about Cayetano's recent ascension to Senate leadership, Duterte refrained from commenting, stating that it was a decision made by the senators themselves.
Cayetano secured his position following a vote of support from 13 senators, coinciding with Duterte's own impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Whatever leadership is in place in the Senate is the decision of the senators, the members of the Philippine Senate.
Vice President Sara Duterte