SC rejects Bato plea for TRO vs ICC arrest

MANILA, Philippines, May 21 ------ As Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown, the Supreme Court has rejected his petition for a temporary restraining order against his arrest on the strength of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

Voting 9-5-1, the Supreme Court justices denied Dela Rosa’s petition for a TRO and status quo ante order. The SC clarified, however, that it “only decided on the prayers for interim relief. The main issues raised by the parties in their pleadings and motions are yet to be resolved in the main case.”

In a press briefer, the SC said it would release its full resolution as well as the concurring and dissenting opinions of the justices on May 25. Malacañang said the SC ruling proved that the ICC arrest warrant is valid. “All possible interpretations and evaluations of the said resolution of the Supreme Court, we defer to (Justice) Secretary Fredderick Vida,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

But sought for comment, Vida said that “only the Office of the President can make further pronouncements on the matter.” His spokesman Polo Martinez said: “The OP shall clarify details and make further pronouncements on the matter.” Asked whether the Palace now considers Dela Rosa a fugitive, Castro cited a previous statement from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) calling the senator a fugitive from justice whose arrest would not need clearance from a local court.

Dela Rosa, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, will file a motion for reconsideration. “The fight for due process, constitutional sovereignty and the lawful protection of every Filipino under Philippine courts, continues,” Torreon said. “For Senator Dela Rosa, this case is not merely personal. It concerns the right of every Filipino to be protected by Philippine law, Philippine courts and by the guarantees of due process, liberty and sovereignty enshrined in the Constitution,” he added.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he is deferring to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when asked if he would begin manhunt operations. “The SOJ (secretary of justice) is lead,” Remulla said in a Viber message. Sought for comment, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag said, “I don’t want to speculate,” as he has not seen the ruling yet. “The NBI will have to see and study the resolution because first and foremost, only the interim relief was discussed,” said the bureau’s spokesman Palmer Mallari.

Source: philstar.com