Trillanes questions Senate protective custody on Dela Rosa

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday questioned the Senate’s decision to place Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa under its protective custody despite an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to crimes against humanity involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Magke-create sila ng constitutional crisis. Pero alam niyo po, yung ginawa ni Senator Cayetano obstruction of justice ‘yan kasi valid warrant po ito ng ICC na na-transmit via the INTERPOL, na sineserve ng ating local authorities,” said Trillanes in an interview with “24 Oras.”

(They are going to create a constitutional crisis. But you know, what Senator Cayetano did is obstruction of justice because this is a valid ICC warrant transmitted via INTERPOL, which is being served by our local authorities.)

The former senator, who is a staunch critic of the Dutertes. pointed out that Republic Act 9851 provides that Philippine authorities have the legal mandate to hand over suspects to the relevant international tribunal.

“At mayroon po tayong batas, yung Republic Act 9851, na nakalagay po doon, na kapag may isang akusado na iniimbestigahan ng international tribunal sa mga kasong crimes against humanity, genocide, at iba pa, ang awtoridad ay maaaring i-surrender ito sa international court na ‘yun. Wala pong basehan ang protective custody,” said Trillanes.

(And we have a law, Republic Act 9851, which states that when an accused is being investigated by an international tribunal for cases like crimes against humanity, genocide, and others, authorities may surrender them to that international court. There is no basis for protective custody.)

The said law stated that: “...the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties.”

‘Immorally, illegally’

For his part, newly minted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents “immorally, illegally” chased after Dela Rosa within the Senate premises, who returned after being absent since November 11, 2025.

“So today po, immorally, illegally, lahat po ng violation ay ginawa nila. Nakipaghabulan sila sa loob ng Senado. May proseso po ang pag-serve ng warrant. They have to coordinate with the Senate President and may legal remedies po ang isang senador katulad ng kahit sinong Juan dela Cruz na pwedeng pumunta ng korte,” said Cayetano in an interview with “24 Oras.”

(So today, immorally, illegally, they committed every possible violation. They engaged in a chase inside the Senate. There is a process for serving a warrant. They have to coordinate with the Senate President, and a senator has legal remedies just like any ordinary citizen who can go to court.)

Cayetano also noted that Trillanes also sought protective custody then.

The new Senate President added that what happened was a “witch hunt.”

“Actually, si Senator Trillanes mismo, ay nagtago din po sa proteksyon ng Senado bago sumuko. So ang gusto po nila ay witch hunt…You can’t blame us to think that it’s not really justice, but ayaw nila magbago ang mayorya dito sa Senado,” said Cayetano.

(Actually, Senator Trillanes himself hid under the protection of the Senate before surrendering. So what they want is a witch hunt… You can’t blame us for thinking that this isn't really about justice, but rather that they don’t want the majority here in the Senate to change.)

Cayetano also said that Senate Resolution 44 provides that any foreign warrants of arrest must go through any local court and will be the one to issue it.

“Sabi sa akin ni Senator Bato, for as long as it’s a Philippine court and in order lahat, at lahat ng legal remedy ay pwede sa kanya,” he said

(Senator Bato told me that for as long as it’s a Philippine court and everything is in order, and all legal remedies are available to him.)

Further, Cayetano questioned Trillanes’ earlier presence at the Senate premises while holding a copy of the arrest warrant by the ICC.

“Ang problema nga, in what capacity ba si Senator Trillanes? Bigla na lang magpapakita dito may warrant. Is he with the INTERPOL? Is he with the ICC? Police ba siya? So hindi naman pwede na biglang dadating dito tapos makikipaghabulan sa isang senador, were in session, at papunta sa session hall,” he said.

(The problem is, in what capacity was Senator Trillanes there? He just suddenly shows up here with a warrant. Is he with INTERPOL? Is he with the ICC? Is he a policeman? It’s not right to just arrive suddenly and then chase a senator while we are in session and he is headed to the session hall.

“Even assuming na may valid warrant of arrest, you still coordinate at papayagan mo pa rin papasukin sa session hall pagkatapos mahinahon na makikipag-usap.”

But Trillanes said that he was not among those who ran after Dela Rosa.

“Wala po ako doon physically, pero sana nga nandoon ako para na-wrestling ko itong mamang ito at nadala na sa kotse ng NBI,” he said.

(I wasn't there physically, but I wish I had been so I could have wrestled this man and brought him to the NBI vehicle.)

“Nahihiya pa yung ibang ahente, binully niya, sinigaan niya, o tapos nung nakalusot siya, takbo siya. Hindi pupwede yung ganyan. Nagpapatay ka ng libo-libong Pilipino tapos iiwas ka ng hustisya.”

(The other agents were still feeling shy; he bullied them, acted like a tough guy, and then once he got through, he ran. That shouldn't be allowed. You had thousands of Filipinos killed, and now you’re evading justice.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA News