MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said his position on respecting local courts in relation to possible arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is meant to uphold the country’s legal processes, not to protect Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go.

Lacson issued the statement amid criticisms of his stand that local Philippine courts must be respected in whatever course of action the ICC may take.

“What I am protecting is our country’s legal processes as enshrined in the Constitution, and not Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa or Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who now face charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).”

“To those who criticize my opinion on the need for a corresponding domestic court order before the ICC warrants of arrest against our fellow senators and others may be implemented, let me be clear: what I am protecting is our country’s legal processes as enshrined in Article III Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, not Senators Ronald de la Rosa and Bong Go,” Lacson said on X.

“Despite contrasting legal opinions on the matter, at the proper time, it is only the Supreme Court that will interpret the constitutional provision and legal procedure in this regard,” he added.

Lacson pointed out that Article III Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution upholds the right of the people against deprivation of liberty.

Under Art. III Sec. 2 of the Constitution, “(t)he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.”

“(Thus) it does not matter if the warrant is issued by a foreign jurisdiction where extradition is in effect. Article III Section 2, which deals with protection from deprivation of liberty of our citizens, must be respected,” Lacson said.

He reiterated that the Senate may discuss possible options on the matter as early as Wednesday, adding that the chamber’s lawyers would also look into possible courses of action.

On Saturday, Lacson said dela Rosa and Go should have the chance to avail of all legal options, “because our local courts and processes must be respected.”

“Our local courts must be respected. 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 said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ.