MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday called for due process for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and expressed hope that any arrest of his colleague would be carried out peacefully, without violence or tragedy, as authorities step up their manhunt for the lawmaker over a reported International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
In a social media post, Lacson described dela Rosa as a Senate colleague, a former subordinate in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and a fellow Philippine Military Academy alumnus.
“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 said.
“He 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 ICC 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 following a shooting incident inside the premises last May 13.
On Friday, the government announced a P50-million bounty for dela Rosa while the PNP gave him one week to surrender. Dela Rosa's lawyers questioned the legality of the reward.
