Police on Monday said it had served a subpoena on Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection with the revived investigation into alleged human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, linked to the anti-drug campaign that began when he was still police chief of Davao City.
A copy of the subpoena, signed by Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Dela Rosa must appear before the CIDG’s Major Crimes Investigation Unit at Camp Crame on Thursday (May 14).
The subpoena requires Dela Rosa to “clarify matters, execute a sworn statement/affidavit, submit documents and/or other relevant information in connection with the subject investigation being conducted by [the CIDG].”
In a press briefing on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) information chief and spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the subpoena had been served at Dela Rosa’s residence in Davao City and at his office at the Senate in Pasay City.
Tuaño said the subpoena was served by CIDG Region 11 personnel at Dela Rosa’s residence through substituted service after the senator was found to be not physically present.
“Dahil hindi po siya physically present sa kanyang residence, ang nangyari po substituted service po ang tawag natin diyan. Yung subpoena po ay ni-receive ng kanyang caretaker (Because he was not physically present at his residence, what happened was what we call substituted service. The subpoena was received by his caretaker),” he said.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, meanwhile, clarified that the subpoena is not an arrest warrant but an order requiring Dela Rosa to appear personally before the CIDG.
He said the subpoena is not connected with the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the anti-drug campaign of the Duterte administration, under which Dela Rosa served as PNP chief.
“Let me clarify, walang kinalaman sa ICC, pero kung dumating ang ICC warrant then we will act again (This has nothing to do with the ICC. However, if an ICC warrant arrives, then we will act again),” he added in the same briefing.
Remulla declined to speculate on what would happen if Dela Rosa repeatedly ignores the summons.
The subpoena, however, states that “Failure to comply without adequate cause or valid justification shall be a ground for the filing of a case for Indirect Contempt of Court against you under Rule 71, Revised Rules of Court in relation to Section 1 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10973.” (PNA)