Dela Rosa to Marcos: Show us ‘extreme sincerity’ first to heal rift
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, seen in this file photo, says he wants to see sincerity in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said it would require “extreme sincerity” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to convince them he truly wants to reconcile with the Dutertes.
But still, it’s a good start, as everyone wants peace anyway, according to Dela Rosa.
“But only if they are sincere in what they’re saying,” speaking in Filipino, he pointed out in a phone-patch interview with Senate reporters on Tuesday.
Dela Rosa said he could not say if the President was sincere, citing his own experience when Marcos supposedly promised him that his administration would not cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Marcos supposedly broke this promise when he allowed the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the ICC when the latter arrived from Hong Kong last March 11.
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Duterte and his then police chief, Dela Rosa, were among those named in the crimes against humanity complaint filed before the ICC in connection with their war on drugs that left thousands of people dead.
Told that there is still no warrant of against him issued by the ICC, Dela Rosa answered: “There’s none but what did they do to President Duterte?”
Duterte is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, awaiting the start of his trial in September.
“As I’ve said, no one really wants to be in conflict forever. We all want peace, to live quietly and peacefully, and to focus on the good of our country,” Dela Rosa went on.
“But because of the depth of the wounds they inflicted on us, I think what’s really needed is ‘extreme sincerity.’ Not just something superficial, because as I’ve said, we’ve already had experience with him…” the senator added.
It was in his podcast aired on Monday that Marcos expressed his desire to come to terms with the Dutertes.
“Yes. I don’t like conflicts. What I want is to get along with everyone,” he said. “I already have a lot of enemies; I don’t need more. What I need are friends.” / MR
