Duterte-allied Padilla: If you arrest Bato, take me too

Sen. Robinhood Padilla. Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva España

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robinhood Padilla said he is coming with Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa should the beleaguered lawmaker be arrested for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the violent war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Dela Rosa – chief enforcer of the former’s drug war during his time as Philippine National Police chief – are among those being investigated by the ICC for supposed state-sponsored killings in the context of the government’s bloody anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Duterte-allied Padilla was asked on Thursday about the decision of Sen. Francis Tolentino to stand as legal counsel of dela Rosa in the ICC probe.

READ: Tolentino to stand as Dela Rosa’s legal counsel in ICC probe

“Ayoko lang sapawan si Sen. Tolentino pero kung huhulihin nila si Bato, isama niyo na ako. Dahil ako, isa ako sa mga sumuporta kay Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte diyan sa drug war. Walang iwanan iyan. Sasamahan ko sila kung saan sila. Tutal sanay naman tayo sa kulungan. Sa abroad pa, masarap pagkain doon,” he told reporters.

(I don’t want to take the spotlight away from Sen. Tolentino, but if they’ll arrest Bato, take me too. Because I was one of the people who supported President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his drug war. We won’t leave each other behind. I’ll join them wherever they are. After all, I’m used to prison. And this would be abroad, the food is delicious there.)

Padilla served prison time after he was convicted for illegal possession of firearms in 1994. In 1997, he was pardoned by President Fidel Ramos and released from jail.

Years later, Duterte granted the absolute pardon to the actor-turned-lawmaker.

Will Tolentino break his promise?

Tolentino would be wearing two hats – as a senator and as dela Rosa’s legal counsel.

But under the 1987 Constitution, “no senator or member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral Tribunals, or as quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies.”

Tolentino had earlier noted that he would secure a clearance from Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to allow him to represent dela Rosa.

Should Tolentino need to take on both roles, Padilla said people should not cast doubts on the former’s capability to do so without conflict.

But if Tolentino would be asked to choose, Padilla expressed confidence that the lawyer-legislator will abide by his promise to dela Rosa.

“Naniniwala ako na kapag dumating iyong panahon, kung darating nga iyong panahon na lilitisin si Bato at kailangan niyang bitawan iyong pagiging senador niya para magampanan niya iyong kanyang sinumpaan na tutulungan niya si Bato, gagawin iyon ni Sen. Tolentino. Hindi iyon magsasalita na hindi galing sa puso niya,” he said.

(I believe that when the time comes [or] if the time comes that Bato will be tried in court, and he will need to drop his role as senator to fulfill his promise to help Bato, Sen. Tolentino will do that. He will not speak if it’s not from his heart.)

Padilla, Tolentino and dela Rosa are members of the faction of PDP-Laban chaired by Duterte.

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JPV