Who is Bato dela Rosa?

Six months after disappearing from the public eye, Senator Ronald "Bato" Marapon dela Rosa on Monday showed up at the Senate and cast his vote for his ally Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate president.

The 64-year-old Dela Rosa had not attended any session at the Senate since November 11, 2025, three days after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla bared that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against the senator over his links to the war on drugs by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Staunch ally

A two-term senator, Dela Rosa is one of Duterte family's staunchest allies, owing to his long history with the former president.

Dela Rosa previously served as Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director from 2012 to 2013, implementing then-mayor Rodrigo Duterte's strict anti-drug operations, including the controversial "Oplan Tokhang."

He was also Duterte's chief of police in 2016 during the height of the bloody drug war, which led to the death of at least 6,200 suspects, according to government records. Data from human rights groups, however, said the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.

According to the warrant for his arrest issued by the ICC, Dela Rosa had "alleged criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator" in the crimes against humanity of murder from July 3, 2016, until the end of April 2018, wherein at least 32 persons died.

The Chamber found reasonable grounds that Dela Rosa had committed such crimes.

Top cop-turned-senator

Dela Rosa, a brigadier general before being appointed PNP chief, held the position for 21 months.

He later stepped down due to mandatory retirement and was appointed Director General of the Bureau of Corrections before being elected senator in 2019.

During his reelection bid in Eleksyon 2025, Dela Rosa ranked third among all senatorial candidates with 20.5 million votes.

His election profile indicates that he was born in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, where he is a registered voter. His residence is in Barangay Magtuod, Davao City.

Legislation

In the Senate, Dela Rosa pushed for bills against illegal drugs including the revival and imposition of death penalty for those who will import, manufacture and cultivate illegal drugs, the inclusion of substance abuse prevention education for grade school students, and strengthening the public health approach in drug abuse prevention.

Dela Rosa completed his Master's Degree in Public Administration and Doctorate Degree in Development Administration at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City in 1998 and 2006, respectively. He is also a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sinagtala Class of 1986.

During his police service, Dela Rosa received accolades including the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) Satellite Office of the Year Award conferred by then-President Joseph Estrada. — VDV, GMA News