Bato dela Rosa spends night at Jinggoy's Senate office amid ICC warrant

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa spent Monday night at the Senate after the International Criminal Court unsealed the arrest warrant issued against him in connection with the killings during the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Dela Rosa stayed at the office of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, which he described as better than his. He was in t-shirt, shorts, and slippers when reporters saw him Tuesday morning emerging from Estrada's office.

"Mas maganda ang kuwarto niya, mas maraming pagkain (His room was better, it also has more food)," Dela Rosa said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

He, however, noted that he was not able to eat or sleep much.

"Dalawang subo lang, parang hangin ang laman ng tiyan ko. 'Yung utak mo gumagana kahit na natutulog (Just two bites, my stomach seems to be full of fair. My mind also keeps on working even if I'm asleep)," he added

He further said that he will stay in the Senate until the Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order against the ICC warrant.

"Dito lang ako, hindi ako aalis (I will just stay here, I will not leave)," he said.

Asked where he hid, the senator replied: "Anywhere in the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. Basta, I didn't leave the Philippines. mahal ko ang Pilipinas (I love the Philippines). I will live and die in this country."

Dela Rosa also said he did not claim all his salaries while he was hiding.

"Nahihiya na ako sa taumbayan na naghahanap sa akin kahit na hindi ko kini-claim ang sweldo ko. I have to show up. Na-claim ng staff ko pero hindi ko nakuha. Sabi ko sa staff ko gamitin n'yo dyan sa kawang-gawa para umabot sa taumbayan ang pera na 'yan," he said.

(I feel ashamed because the people are looking for me even though I did not claim my salary during my absence. I have to show up. My staff claimed my salary but I was not able to receive it. I told my staff to use the money for charity so it will reach the people)

He has been absent from the Senate since November 11, 2025, after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla alleged that the ICC issued a warrant of arrest against him over the previous administration’s drug war.

Dela Rosa showed up on Monday to attend the Senate session, in which he was among the 13 who voted to unseat Senator Vicente Sotto III as Senate president and put Alan Peter Cayetano in his place. —AOL, GMA News