OSG asks SC to deny Bato dela Rosa's plea vs. ICC arrest warrant

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on Saturday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to deny the plea of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa in connection with the International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against him.

In its 83-page G.R. No. 278747, the OSC asked the SC to deny dela Rosa’s Urgent Manifestation with Omnibus Motion and Extremely Urgent Supplemental Manifestation with Motion due to alleged lack of merit.

Dela Rosa filed the petitions before the high court seeking judicial recourse before the executive department can act on the arrest warrant issued against him by the ICC.

The OSG submitted its comment before the SC as directed.

De la Rosa earlier filed a motion appealing to the high court for a temporary restraining order against the warrant of arrest issued by the ICC against him for crimes against humanity for murder in connection with the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The senator, a former police general, was the head of the Davao City Police and later the Philippine National Police during the period when Duterte was mayor and President of the Philippines.

Earlier, the Supreme Court did not issue the temporary restraining order (TRO) Dela Rosa prayed for, as it directed government officials to comment on his plea against the implementation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him.

Shortly after the SC decision, dela Rosa, who was absent from the Senate for the past six months after learning there was an arrest warrant against him, again disappeared after reappearing to vote in a change of Senate leadership.

On Friday, an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was issued against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida. —RF, GMA News