MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go should be allowed to exhaust all legal remedies in response to charges filed against them before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC named the two senators as co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

“I think they should have the chance to avail of all legal options, because our local courts and processes must be respected,” Lacson said in a DWIZ radio interview. “If there is an arrest warrant from the ICC or a foreign court, it should go through our local court, which will issue a corresponding order to implement the foreign entity’s arrest warrant.”

Lacson added that the Senate will discuss possible courses of action, including what assistance, if any, it could extend to dela Rosa and Go. Senate President Vicente Sotto III may convene a caucus to consult with senators on the matter.

He noted that it is still too early to determine the implications, as the ICC has not issued a bill of particulars specifying the charges and penalties the two senators could face.

“The Senate’s lawyers will study possible courses of action given the circumstances,” Lacson said. “On the part of the senators, we’ll discuss the matter. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.”