Bato supports Imee call for Ombudsman to probe officials over Duterte arrest

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Saturday backed the move of Senator Imee Marcos to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate several government officials over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Dapat mapapanagot kung tunay…kung merong pagkakamali,” Dela Rosa told GMA News Online in Butuan City where the PDP Laban’s senatorial candidates held a grand rally.

(They should be held accountable if they made a mistake over Duterte’s arrest.)

WATCH: Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s comment on Senator Imee Marcos’ call for the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate several government officials over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. @gmanewspic.twitter.com/TELciAEQdQ

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) May 3, 2025

Marcos earlier called on the Ombudsman to probe Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil, and CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III, following the arrest of Duterte on March 11.

She later on submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman a chairman's report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Duterte’s arrest, noting that the panel inquiry “uncovered acts by high-ranking government officials which very likely constitute criminal and administrative offenses.”

Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities in March based on a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during the drug war.

ICC

Dela Rosa also gave an answer to a recent ambush interview with Vice President Sara Duterte who said that he will be among those who will be next slapped with an arrest warrant by the ICC.

“Sige lang. Wala naman tayong magawa diyan. Wala naman tayong control sa ICC,” the senator said.

(Go on with it. We can’t do anything about it. We have no control over the ICC.)

Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, had said that she believes she is also on the arrest list of the ICC.

However, she said that an arrest warrant would be issued first against Dela Rosa, along with Senator Bong Go, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, and police generals Vicente Danao and Romeo Caramat Jr.

Dela Rosa served as PNP chief during the Duterte administration and was the chief implementer of the war on drugs.

Asked if he was willing to go to the ICC should an arrest warrant be really issued against him, he said, “Secret!”

Dela Rosa also said that he plans to visit the former president in The Hague after the 2025 national and local elections.

“Saka pa ako mag-apply ng Schengen visa pagtapos ng eleksyon,” he said.

(I will apply for a Schengen visa after the elections.)

Dela Rosa and Go are currently seeking reelection in the 2025 midterm elections. — VBL, GMA Integrated News

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