Dela Rosa: No crimes against humanity in PH, justice system working

The proposed 2022 budget of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the amount of PHP867.25 million has been approved on Monday by the Senate Finance Subcommittee C headed by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa who reiterated that no crimes against humanity has been committed in the Philippines under the present administration.

"Ipikit ko man 'yung mata ko, i-open ko 'yung mata ko, eh wala akong makitang crimes against humanity...But anyway, sabihin mo mang biased ako...basta kahit sino sigurong tanungin mong Pilipino, kung meron bang crimes against humanity na nangyayari dito sa ating bansa ngayon, wala man akong nakikita. Pero sige lang. Nandyan naman si Lord. Hindi man tayo pababayaan ni Lord. Alam man niya 'yung nagyayari," Dela Rosa told CHR Chariman Jose Luis "Chito" Gascon during the Finance Committee's deliberation on the commission's proposed appropriation for Fiscal Year 2022.

Dela Rosa, first chief of the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration, said he wouldn't want a foreign court to try him in connection with the performance of his duty when he was still in the police force.

"Alam mo, being a Filipino, gusto ko sana...I would rather be tried, convicted, and even hanged before a Filipino court, rather than being tried, convicted and hanged before a foreign court. So 'yun lang ang gusto kong iparating sa'yo because being a Filipino, it's also my right," the Mindanaoan Senator said.

Dela Rosa said that while there are isolated cases of police who abuse their position, they are not tolerated by the PNP and the government.

"Ayaw na ayaw ko na nata-try ng foreign court...na walang alam sa pangyayari sa Pilipinas kundi nagde-depende lang doon sa mga nag-a-allege, na nagcha-charge sa gobyerno na alam naman natin na karamihan diyan ay politically motivated, except of course 'don sa talagang legitimate cases...meron naman talagang nag-aabuso na mga pulis. Inaamin natin 'yan. At meron nga tayong nakukulong na mga pulis, meron nga tayong mga pulis na kinasuhan. But sana h'wag lang 'yung maging one-sided 'yung kanilang investigation," the senator said.

Dela Rosa emphasized that while the ICC is an international court, it is "totally foreign as far as the Filipinos are concerned."

"Wala man kaya tayong miyembro dun dahil umalis man tayo at hindi na tayo miyembro ng ICC... I would rather have a criminal justice system run like hell by Filipino judges rather than a criminal justice run like heaven by foreign judges. 'Yun ang sa akin, ayokong magpasakop talaga sa mga foreigner na 'yan," he said.

Gascon, for his part, said that the ICC's core fundamental principle is complementarity, which means that they may decide not to proceed with their investigation if they see that our justice system is working.

"Ang kailangan po nating gawin talaga, ipakita na ang legal system natin operates in a way that is consistent with the national and the international standard," the commissioner said.

Dela Rosa responded, "I don't think kailangan pa nating ipakita dahil nakikita naman talaga na working 'yung ating criminal justice system...It's working. Really working. Ang mahirap lang diyan is ICC is masyadong naniniwala sa mga nag-rereport sa kanila which is biased. I am very sure, politically biased. If not, baka hindi lang ito politics, kundi ito'y handiwork na ng mga malalaking drug syndicates na tinamaan ng ating war on drugs."

Dela Rosa, during the approval of the CHR budget at the subcommittee level, stated that he has been consistent in supporting the CHR budget since he became a senator because he is a human rights advocate.

"I am also a human rights advocate. You (Gascon) are a human rights advocate, particularly to the victims. I am also a human rights advocate, particularly to the victims of the drug-crazed criminals. Pareho lang tayo ang habol human rights, there is no quarrel about that. So I am with you in seeking human rights," Dela Rosa said.

As Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Dela Rosa is tasked to defend the 2022 funds of the CHR during the Senate plenary budget deliberation in November.