Malacañang: ICC arrest warrant vs Bato dela Rosa 'valid'

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro says the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court vs Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is “valid.” This, after the Supreme Court denied the senator’s TRO. @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews pic.twitter.com/NKkBFpAUG8

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) May 20, 2026

Malacañang said Wednesday the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is “valid,” after the Supreme Court denied the lawmaker’s request for a temporary restraining order.

“Sa ngayon, masasabi po natin na ang warrant of arrest ay valid laban dito kay Senator Bato dela Rosa,” Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said in a short interview with Palace reporters.

(For now, what we can say is that the arrest warrant against Senator Bato dela Rosa is valid.)

She said all operational matters will now be left to the discretion of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Ang lahat ng maaaring interpretasyon at evaluation sa nasabing resolution ng Supreme Court ay ibabato natin kay [Justice] Secretary Fredderick Vida,” she added.

(We will leave all possible interpretations and evaluations of the said Supreme Court resolution to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida.)

The SC said the En Banc, voting 9-5-1 during a special session, denied Dela Rosa’s prayer for interim relief.

In his manifestations before the High Court, Dela Rosa sought a TRO and/or status quo ante order to prevent several government agencies from arresting him on the basis of any warrant issued by the ICC, any Interpol red notice or diffusion, or any foreign judicial or quasi-judicial instrument without a corresponding Philippine judicial warrant.

Asked if Dela Rosa can now be considered as a fugitive, the Palace official said, “‘Yan din po ang pananaw ng OSG (Office of the Solicitor General)---na siya po ay kinukinsidera na fugitive.”

(That is also the view of the OSG--that he is considered a fugitive.)

The Supreme Court clarified that it only resolved the requests for interim relief, particularly the TRO and SQAO, and has yet to rule on the main legal issues raised by the parties in the case. — RSJ, GMA News