Bato on changing position when warrant comes: I’m adjusting to BBM’s actions

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa emphasized the need to change his strategy should the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court come as President did not stand firm to its commitments.

The reelectionist senator was reacting to criticisms for having multiple options should the arrest warrant be implemented against him by the Philippine authorities.

“Pabago-bago nga ang ating presidente, ako pa, hindi magbabago? Sabi nga ni Pangulong BBM, ‘Gabuhok mo hindi mahawakan ng ICC,’ kaya naniwala naman tayo. Naniwala naman tayo. Ngayon, nagbago na ang isip niya,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview.

“Ako pa? ‘Yung atin namang mga ginagawa ay purely reactions lamang. Magbago sila, magbago rin tayo. Alangan hindi tayo magbabago eh lugi tayo kung hindi tayo magbago, ‘di ba? Sila pabago-bago, mag-adjust din tayo sa kanila, hanggang reaction lang naman tayo. Sila ang nagbibigay ng stimulus sa ating reaction,” the Mindanaoan lawmaker explained.

As a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Dela Rosa said planning several options in dealing with the anticipated arrest warrant is part of his survival.

“Hindi pupwedeng magiging fixed tayo. Otherwise, sitting ducks tayo kapag tayo’y fixed ang ating posisyon…Sana maintindihan ninyo. I have to survive. I have to survive all these trials that are thrown before us,” he said.

“Kailangang kung ganito katuso ang gobyerno na kaharap mo, kailangang marunong ka rin mag-adjust,” he added.

Dela Rosa has been questioning the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and filed a petition challenging the legality of the Philippine government’s surrender of the former president to the ICC.

The former PNP chief has maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines as the country has already withdrawn from the Rome Statute.

Dela Rosa led the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign where at least 1.6 million drug dependents surrendered to the government.

The reelectionist senator has maintained that there was a need to implement a war on drugs to eradicate the cause of heinous crimes in the country.