Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said senators facing allegations must confront legal processes instead of using the Senate as refuge from accountability, as tensions continue over the presence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa inside the Senate complex amid reports of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
In a radio interview, Hontiveros said lawmakers should set the example in obeying the law and facing judicial proceedings.
“Dapat kaming mga mambabatas ay unang magpapakita ng halimbawa ng pagsunod sa batas at pagharap sa mga legal na proseso (We lawmakers should be the first to set an example in obeying the law and facing legal processes),” she said.
Hontiveros was among the signatories to Senate Resolution No. 395 led by Sen. Francis Pangilinan urging Dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to authorities while pursuing available legal remedies under the Constitution and Philippine laws.
“Ang panawagan doon ay boluntaryong sumuko sa mga otoridad at mag-seek remedies sa ilalim ng ating konstitusyon, mga batas at rules (The call there is to voluntarily surrender to authorities and seek remedies under our Constitution, laws and rules),” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros said allegations involving crimes against humanity fall outside the scope of Senate immunity traditionally observed for lawmakers.
“Ang pinag-uusapan ay mga alegasyon ng crimes against humanity na kung sa ilalim ng International Criminal Court, maaaring patawan ng parusa na not more than 30 years. So, lampas po (We are talking about allegations of crimes against humanity which, under the ICC, may carry penalties of more than 30 years. So, it goes beyond that),” she said.
She said unresolved constitutional and legal questions remain regarding the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC under the Duterte administration.
“Hindi pa talaga resolved. Kaya ganyang kaimportante itong sitwasyon ngayon (These issues are still unresolved. That is why the situation now is so important),” she said.
Hontiveros noted that several former senators, including the late Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, former senator Leila de Lima, and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, faced warrants while serving in office and confronted legal proceedings.
“They faced the music,” she said. (PNA)