MANILA – Sen. Risa Hontiveros said lawmakers facing allegations should confront legal proceedings instead of using the Senate as protection from accountability, amid tensions surrounding the presence of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa inside the Senate complex following reports of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.

In a radio interview, Hontiveros said legislators must lead by example in following the law and complying with judicial processes.

“Dapat kaming mga mambabatas ay unang magpapakita ng halimbawa ng pagsunod sa batas at pagharap sa mga legal na proseso (We lawmakers should be the first to set an example in obeying the law and facing legal processes),” she said.

Hontiveros was among the senators who signed Senate Resolution No. 395, introduced by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, urging dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to authorities while seeking available legal remedies under the Constitution and Philippine laws.

“Ang panawagan doon ay boluntaryong sumuko sa mga otoridad at mag-seek remedies sa ilalim ng ating konstitusyon, mga batas at rules (The call there is to voluntarily surrender to authorities and seek remedies under our Constitution, laws and rules),” Hontiveros said.

The senator also said allegations involving crimes against humanity go beyond the usual scope of Senate immunity granted to lawmakers.

“Ang pinag-uusapan ay mga alegasyon ng crimes against humanity na kung sa ilalim ng International Criminal Court, maaaring patawan ng parusa na not more than 30 years. So, lampas po (We are talking about allegations of crimes against humanity which, under the ICC, may carry penalties of more than 30 years. So, it goes beyond that),” she said.

Hontiveros added that legal and constitutional questions regarding the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC during the Duterte administration remain unresolved.

“Hindi pa talaga resolved. Kaya ganyang kaimportante itong sitwasyon ngayon (These issues are still unresolved. That is why the situation now is so important),” she said.

She also pointed out that several former senators, including Juan Ponce Enrile, Leila de Lima, and Antonio Trillanes IV, faced warrants while serving in office and underwent legal proceedings.

“They faced the music,” Hontiveros said.