Trillanes: SILG Remulla should ensure Bato dela Rosa's arrest

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday urged Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to ensure that Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa would be nabbed after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant in connection with the case on alleged extrajudicial killings during the previous administration's war on drugs.

“Unang-una po, kailangan bantayan ito ni Secretary Remulla. 'Yung pinagmamalaki niyang dragnet, ito na. Kailangan hindi 'yan makalabas kasi maraming butas 'yang opisina ng Senado,” Trillanes told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(First of all, Secretary Remulla needs to watch over this. That dragnet he is bragging about -- this is the time. Dela Rosa should not be able to escape because the Senate office has many exit points.)

“So, ito po, antayin na lang po natin kung ano ang magiging pasya ng mga awtoridad. Pero definitely mananagot at mananagot po itong si Bato dela Rosa,” he added.

(So, let’s just wait and see what the authorities decide. But Bato dela Rosa will definitely be held accountable.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from Remulla on the matter but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Trillanes made the remark after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives attempted to serve the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa at the Senate on Monday.

According to Trillanes, NBI agents and the Senate leadership appeared to have coordinated during the attempted serving of the warrant, citing the presence of personnel at various Senate entry points.

“Sa aking paniniwala, meron naman kasi magkapareha silang nagbabantay doon sa iba't ibang entry points. Hindi naman po mangyayari 'yan kung nag-gatecrash lang po 'yung NBI. I think there was coordination and it was already admitted by Senator Sotto,” Trillanes said.

(I believe coordination has been done because both of them were guarding the various entry points. That wouldn't have happened if the NBI had just gatecrashed. I think there was coordination and it was already admitted by Senator Sotto.)

Moments after NBI operatives chased Dela Rosa, senators voted Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate president, replacing Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

Trillanes said the warrant was issued by ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I as early as November 6, 2025 but authorities waited to serve it because Dela Rosa supposedly went into hiding after news of the warrant surfaced.

“Noong mga panahon na iyon, in-announce ni [Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla] 'yung warrant. Kaya dahil doon, nagtago na itong si Bato dela Rosa,” Trillanes said.

(At that time, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced the warrant. That's why Bato dela Rosa went into hiding.)

READ: Ombudsman firm on ICC warrant for Dela Rosa: ‘I have a copy’

“At simula noong panahon na iyon, ngayon na lang po ulit lumabas si Bato. At ganyan po ang nature ng sealed warrant. Para ma-serve talaga para mahuli talaga ay hindi siya ina-announce sa publiko,” he added.

(And since that time, Bato came out only now. And that's the nature of a sealed warrant. It is not announced in public so that it can be really served.)

Trillanes also questioned the Senate’s move to place Dela Rosa under protective custody.

He pointed out that the crimes against humanity offense carries a penalty beyond six years imprisonment and therefore does not fall under constitutional protections against arrest during Senate sessions.

“Bawal po. 'Yun 'yung ginawa po ni Alan Cayetano. Nasa Saligang Batas natin na ang hindi lang puwede arestuhin ay 'yung may kaso ng six years or below. Ito po crimes against humanity, life imprisonment po ang hatol dito. Kaya hindi puwede 'yun,” Trillanes said.

(What Alan Cayetano did is not allowed. Our Constitution states that the only people who cannot be arrested are those with cases of six years or below. Dela Rosa's offense is for crimes against humanity, the sentence here is life imprisonment. That's why that's not allowed.)

Trillanes also recalled the time when he and former senator Leila de Lima were arrested at the Senate in 2018 and 2017, respectively

“Kaya wala pong safe haven na sinasabi,” he said.

(So there is no safe haven.)

Meanwhile, Trillanes said that the Senate leadership on Monday is connected with the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Pero, ito po 'yan. ''Yung mangyayari po sa trial, kapag nakita ng mga senador 'yung ebidensiya, marami pa rin po doon sa hanay ni Alan Cayetano ay siguradong tatalon at magko-convict,” he said.

(But, this is how it is. What will happen in the trial is that when the senators see the evidence, many among Alan Cayetano’s allies will surely switch and convict the vice president.)

“Kasi nasaksihan ko na po 'yang ganyan. Sa una, meron pong mga personal loyalties. Pero kinalaunan, magtatalunan din, kung ano po ang magiging pulso ng mga kababayan natin,” he added.

(Because I have witnessed that. At first, there were personal loyalties. But later, there will also be changes depending on the pulse of our countrymen.) —KG, GMA News