By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has revealed that his office received an email from the International Criminal Court (ICC) requesting an interview. However, his office is still in the process of verifying the authenticity of the communication.

“My office received an email. I’m not sure how authentic that email is. We are still questioning its authenticity,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview when asked about receiving any communication, such as letters, from the ICC.

“They want to interview me,” he added.

The senator mentioned that he is considering whether to respond to the interview request to verify that it was indeed sent by the ICC. However, Dela Rosa expressed concerns that engaging with the ICC might imply that he acknowledges its jurisdiction over the Philippines.

“If it’s really the ICC that wants to interview me, it would mean I’ve recognized their jurisdiction… Why should I engage? They might later claim that I’ve recognized it,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa was the Chief of the Philippine National Police when the Duterte administration’s war on drugs was implemented.

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