EDITORIAL - Let the truth prevail

It’s good to hear Sen. Ronald dela Rosa saying he is willing to be interviewed by prosecutors of the International Criminal Court. Although the former chief of the Philippine National Police maintained that he still did not recognize ICC jurisdiction, he said the ICC “can interview me anytime.”

“If they want to talk, I will answer their question,” Dela Rosa said last Friday, adding he would not show the ICC disrespect. What he intends to tell the ICC is unclear. Dela Rosa, as the first PNP chief during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, is said to be the architect of the brutal anti-drug crackdown code-named Oplan Tokhang. If he would tell the whole truth about the war on drugs that led to the killing of over 6,000 drug suspects at the hands of law enforcers, it would be a major step toward justice.

Dela Rosa issued the statements after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Philippine government would not stop the International Criminal Police Organization from enforcing an arrest order issued by the ICC for “suspects” in a case of murder as a crime against humanity in the conduct of Duterte’s drug war. The Philippines is one of 196 Interpol member states and is bound by its commitments to the world’s largest police organization, in case the ICC courses its arrest orders through the Interpol.

There are unconfirmed reports that upon ICC request, the Interpol has issued “blue notices” to member states for help in obtaining information from five drug war “suspects” – Dela Rosa, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, PNP Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Eleazar Mata, retired police Col. Edilberto Leonardo who is now a commissioner of the National Police Commission, and Northern Luzon police commander Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., who was the Bulacan provincial director when 32 drug suspects were killed within just 24 hours in the province in 2017 in a “one-time, big time” anti-drug sweep.

The ICC has reportedly tagged Leonardo as the paymaster for PNP members who killed drug suspects, with Caramat allegedly facilitating the reward of P10,000 per kill. If the allegations are true, it could help establish that the killings were state-sponsored and systematic.

Will Dela Rosa and the others cooperate? They may want to help finally shed light on a dark period in Philippine law enforcement. It could bring not only spiritual redemption, but also a better legal deal for those who are directly responsible for murder as a crime against humanity.