Padilla tells Dela Rosa: Never surrender to foreign power

Senator Robin Padilla on Tuesday urged Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to “never surrender to the foreign power” amid reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against the latter.

Padilla, a known ally of dela Rosa, said he has not spoken to his colleague since the latter stopped attending Senate plenary sessions on November 11.

“Wala po ako konek kay Sen. Bato (I have no connection with Senator Bato),” Padilla said.

Padilla seemed to justify why Dela Rosa has not reported for work at the Senate, despite the lack of confirmation that a warrant for his arrest was already issued.

“Si Gen. Bato ay dating sundalo at pulis. Maingat yan (General Bato is a former military and police officer, so he is very cautious),” he said.

Sen. Robin Padilla says he has not spoken to Sen. Bato Dela Rosa since he stopped attending Senate sessions: "Wala po ako konek kay Sen. Bato. Si Gen. Bato ay dating sundalo/pulis. Maingat yan." @gmanews

— Mav Gonzales (@mavgonzales) December 9, 2025

Dela Rosa’s absence from the Senate began after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him over the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, was the main implementer of the campaign against illegal drugs during the previous administration.

In March 2023, Padilla said he would join dela Rosa in jail if the latter were arrested by the ICC.

“Kung huhulihin nila si Bato, isama niyo na ako dahil isa ako sa sumuporta kay Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte diyan sa drug war,” Padilla said in an interview.

(If they arrest Bato, then they should also arrest me because I am one of those who supported [former] President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.)

“Walang iwanan nga e. Sasamahan ko sila kung saan sila, tutal sanay naman tayo sa kulungan. Sa abroad pa, naku masarap pagkain doon. Okay 'yon,” he added.

(I will not forsake them. I will stick with them; after all, I’m used to prison life. And abroad, the food will be good there. That’s okay.)

Duterte is currently detained at The Hague in the Netherlands on charges of crimes against humanity following his arrest through a warrant also issued by the ICC.—MCG, GMA Integrated News