Gov't vows to give Bato protection 'in accordance with the law'

Malacañang on Tuesday said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would ensure that Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is given protection in accordance with the law following the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s confirmation that it had issued an arrest warrant against him.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro gave the assurance during a press briefing following major developments in the Senate on Monday.

“Maski ang mga [extrajudicial] victims ay humihingi ng proteksyon... Ang akusado katulad ni Sen. Bato ay bibigyan ng proteksyon na naaayon sa batas,” Castro said.

(Even EJK victims are asking for protection... The accused, such as Sen. Bato, will be given protection in accordance with the law.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Sen. Bato dela Rosa' appeal for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to protect him: "Maski mga EJK victims ay humihingi ng proteksyon... Ang akusado katulad ni Sen. Bato ay bibigyan ng proteksyon na naaayon sa batas." @gmanews pic.twitter.com/uSqXg6kbyr

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) May 12, 2026

The ICC earlier confirmed that the tribunal had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa — former president Rodrigo Duterte’s first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) — in connection with killings linked to the administration’s war on drugs.

Following this, Dela Rosa asked Marcos for protection, saying he is one of the President’s constituents.

Castro, however, clarified that a senator’s privilege from arrest applies only to offenses punishable by not more than six years of imprisonment.

“Meron pong tinatawag na privilege para hindi hulihin ang sinumang senador habang nasa session kapag siya po ay nasa vicinity ng Senado. But alam po natin na ito ay may limitasyon," Castro explained.

(There is a so-called privilege granted to senators that bars them from being arrested while Congress is in session and they are within the vicinity of the Senate. But we know that this has limitations.)

"Kapag ang isang krimen na nagawa ay may penalty na more than six years, hindi po mag-a-apply itong pribilehiyo na ito,” she added.

(If the crime committed carries a penalty of more than six years, this privilege will not apply.)

Section 11, Article VI of the Constitution provides that a senator or member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while Congress is in session.

It also states that no member shall be questioned nor held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in Congress or in any committee thereof.

Rejoining the ICC?

Castro also said that based on her last conversation with President Marcos, he has no intention of having the Philippines rejoin the ICC for now.

“Ang huli naming pag-uusap ng Pangulo, medyo matagal-tagal na po. Sa ngayon hindi ko po ito muling naitatanong — ang huli niyang sinabi ay hindi pa magre-rejoin," she said.

(Based on our last conversation with the President, which was already quite some time ago, I have not asked him about it again. The last thing he said was that the Philippines would not yet rejoin.)

"So kung kinakailangan sigurong aralin sa mga susunod na araw, hindi naman sarado ang Pangulo diyan,” Castro added.

(But if it needs to be studied in the coming days, the President is not closing his doors to that.)

Castro also reacted to Dela Rosa’s statement that Marcos should grant his appeal for protection because the President himself might face the same fate as the senator or former president Rodrigo Duterte in the future.

“Sana tinanong niyo muna kung anong kaso kasi kung ang pag-uusapan natin ay kung madadala siya sa The Hague — that's definitely impossible kasi ang Pangulo ay hindi nag-commit ng EJK,” she said.

(You should have first asked what case was being referred to because if we are talking about whether the President could be brought to The Hague, that’s definitely impossible because the President did not commit EJKs.)

Dela Rosa made a surprise appearance at the Senate on Monday, just as allies of Vice President Sara Duterte were poised to push for a leadership change.

Dela Rosa’s vote proved decisive, helping Duterte allies secure the majority needed to oust Sen. Vicente Sotto III as Senate president, just as the chamber is set to constitute itself as an impeachment court that will try the vice president. — MCG, GMA News