Minority senators urge Bato Dela Rosa to surrender amid ICC warrant

Five senators from the new Senate minority bloc have filed a resolution urging Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to authorities amid the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him over his alleged links to the controversial war on drugs.

Senators Francis Pangilinan, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, and Bam Aquino filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 395 dated May 12, 2026.

Under the proposed resolution, the senators said the chamber has historically “respected judicial and prosecutorial processes involving its own members and former officials.”

They cited the voluntary surrender and judicial submission of late former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the legal remedies pursued by former Senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, and the judicial recourse undertaken by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“Adherence to lawful processes and voluntary submission to judicial authority strengthen democratic institutions, reinforce constitutional accountability, and uphold the principle that no public official is above the law,” the resolution read.

“The Senate reiterates that it possesses no constitutional or statutory authority to provide ‘protective custody’ or sanctuary from lawful arrest, surrender, or judicial processes,” it added.

Dela Rosa, who is currently under Senate protective custody, has remained inside the Senate premises while awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling on his petition seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant.

Asked for comment, Dela Rosa refused to issue a statement, saying he has yet to read the resolution.

On Monday, Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate for the first time in six months after going into hiding amid claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant of arrest against him over his alleged links to the controversial war on drugs.

CCTV footage showed the senator rushing toward the plenary hall to evade arrest by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in civilian clothes.

Senators later voted to cite the agents in contempt and place them under Senate custody. Following a meeting with Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan, the agents were turned over to the custody of the NBI.

Cayetano respects minority decision

Meanwhile, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said he respects the minority senators’ move.

He also said Dela Rosa is welcome to remain in the Senate “until he has exhausted all legal remedies and the Philippine courts rule on his case.”

“We respect their opinion, but Senator Bato should be given the opportunity to exhaust all legal remedies. It should be a Philippine warrant,” Cayetano said.

“This is a good test case. This is not a matter of whether he is guilty or not. In fact, they can be investigated here for the EJKs. This is a question of our Constitution versus a foreign court,” he added.

On Monday, Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate for the first time in six months after going into hiding amid reports that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

CCTV footage showed the senator rushing toward the plenary hall to evade arrest by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in civilian clothes.

Senators later voted to cite the agents in contempt and place them under Senate custody. Following a meeting with Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan, the agents were eventually turned over to the custody of the NBI.—MCG, GMA News