De la Rosa told: Explain to ICC

TWO members of the so-called Young Guns in the House of Representatives on Saturday urged Sen. Ronald de la Rosa to explain to the International Criminal Court (ICC) his involvement in the controversial "war on drugs" waged by former president Rodrigo Duterte, which left thousands of Filipinos dead. In a television interview on Friday, de la Rosa dismissed the claims made by former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog before the House quad committee on Friday, saying that the testimony was part of a demolition job against him. He also reiterated that Mabilog was included in the "narco-list" as he was among those who protected the drug kingpins in Iloilo City. In a statement, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said that instead of accusing the House leadership of playing politics, de la Rosa should come forward and clarify his involvement in the alleged extrajudicial killings during the drug war. Acidre said that de la Rosa could not deny his "central role" in the implementation of the drug war. "Kung ayaw niyang magpaliwanag dito sa ating Kongreso, sa ICC na lang magpaliwanag (If he does not want to explain in Congress, he should explain instead to the ICC), the victims' families and the international community," Acidre said. Meanwhile, Bongalon said that de la Rosa should not just brush aside the investigation of the ICC, as he was at the helm of the police force when the "most egregious human rights abuses were committed." He added that during the quadcomm hearings, several witnesses had testified about the PNP's direct involvement in extrajudicial killings under de la Rosa's leadership. "The quad committee hearings revealed that police forces were given orders to shoot on sight. How can Senator de la Rosa deny his involvement when the bloodiest parts of the war on drugs were carried out under his command?" Bongalon said. Acidre emphasized that the country could not ignore the mounting evidence of human rights violations. "If Senator Bato continues to avoid accountability in our hearings, the ICC will demand that justice be served," Acidre said. Meanwhile, a leader of the House quad committee has named the high-ranking police official who warned Mabilog against returning to the Philippines in 2017. That time, an unnamed PNP general told him that he should not come back to Camp Crame upon the invitation of de la Rosa, as he could get killed there. He also said that at Crame, he would be forced to accuse an "opposition senator and a former presidential candidate as drug lords." This was later confirmed as former Senate president Franklin Drilon and former local government secretary Mar Roxas. House Human Rights panel chairman Bievenido Abante Jr. on national radio revealed that former police chief Camilo Cascolan warned Mabilog against returning to the Philippines to face de la Rosa. "Ito ang tumawag sa kanya para sabihin sa kanya na 'wag na po s'yang uuwi ng Pilipinas [He is the one who told him (Mabilog) to not to come back to the Philippines]," Abante said. He, however, said that it was unfortunate that Cascolan would not be able to testify to confirm the call after his death on November 24 last year due to a lingering illness. But, Abante said that retired Gen. Bernardo Diaz might be called to testify to corroborate his call to Mabilog. The next quadcomm hearing will be held on Wednesday, with EJK being the main topic to be tackled.