The wife of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has appealed to the judiciary to stop any move that would allow the senator to be brought to The Hague to face proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a social media post, Grace Nancy Dela Rosa made an emotional appeal as her husband faces an ICC arrest warrant over alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
“Please do not be an accessory to bringing my husband to The Hague. Every Filipino must be tried in his own country,” she said in a message addressed to members of the judiciary.
She warned that allowing the voluntary surrender of a Filipino to an international tribunal would reflect negatively on the country’s justice system.
“Granting the people in power permission to voluntarily surrender another Filipino is an admission that you are weak and incapable of handling this case, thus the need for an international court to intervene,” she said.
Dela Rosa also urged the judiciary to immediately resolve questions on the ICC’s jurisdiction over domestic cases, stressing urgency in the legal process.
“Please do not waver or give in. We do not have the luxury of time to wait for technical arguments and debates. Every moment you remain undecided is an opportunity for them to close in on Bato,” she added.
She likewise called on the public to share her appeal, saying the issue extends beyond her family.
“To my fellow Filipinos, please copy-paste, screenshot, and help share this until it reaches every legal mind entrusted with the power to decide. This is my fight for my husband, but it is also a fight for every Filipino and for our nation,” she said.
