The August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) late on Thursday called on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to resign as Senate President, holding him accountable for the alleged escape of fugitive Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa’s warrant of arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on crimes against humanity charges was made public earlier this week, after it was revealed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday.
“With all that has happened since Alan Peter Cayetano took over as Senate President, it clearly shows how his Senate leadership has been a failure so far. The gunshots incident and all,” ATOM said in a statement.
“We hold the Senate President accountable for the escape of a wanted man in Senator Bato Dela Rosa. Therefore, we call on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to resign as Senate President effective immediately,” they added.
The group also called out Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to step down, after his actions in the Senate were seen as a disappointment, seeing him as protecting the majority of senators of the camp of the Duterte family.
“You were seen more like someone who was protecting the majority of senators from the Duterte camp, instead of someone carrying out the laws of our land,” ATOM said.
“Your statement declaring that you are not there to arrest Bato Dela Rosa, a wanted man, did not help either,” they added.