The Supreme Court did not issue the temporary restraining order (TRO) Sen. Ronald "Bato" 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.

According to a briefer, the SC gave the respondent officials 72 hours to comment on the manifestation.

Dela Rosa was told to file his reply within a non-extendible period of 72 hours from receipt of the respondent’s comment.

When asked if the SC did not issue a TRO, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the resolution only required the respondents to comment and for the petitioner to file a reply.

“The SC held that this is without prejudice to the Court taking any interim or urgent measures as prayed for by Senator Dela Rosa, should it become necessary,” the briefer said.

Ting said this means the SC may issue a TRO at a later date.

When asked if the absence of a TRO means Dela Rosa may be arrested, Ting said the SC resolution did not cover the matter.

Dela Rosa, on Monday, filed a manifestation for immediate judicial protection and sought guidance on the legal effect of the arrest warrant.

He also reiterated his appeal for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction prohibiting the arrest or transfer of Dela Rosa to any foreign tribunal without prior judicial authorization.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa for the crime against humanity of murder, at least between July 2016 and the end of April 2018, during which no less than 32 individuals were killed in the Philippines.

Dela Rosa is currently under protective custody of the Senate.

The senator has also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to surrender him to the ICC which is based in The Hague, Netherlands.

The ICC warrant of arrest mentioned Dela Rosa’s “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.

Dela Rosa was the PNP chief at the height of the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war campaign.

The Chamber found reasonable grounds that Dela Rosa had committed the crimes against humanity of murder.

“Based on the material submitted by the Prosecution in support of the Incidents, the Chamber finds reasonable grounds to believe that, at least between 3 July 2016 and the end of April 2018, members of the Philippines’ law enforcement, sometimes with the assistance of persons who were not part of the police such as non-police assets and paid hitmen, killed no less than 32 persons – alleged criminals, such as alleged thieves, or people allegedly involved in drug-related activities – at various locations in the Philippines,” the warrant read.

The Prosecution submitted that Dela Rosa’s arrest was necessary “to ensure his appearance before the Court.”

“After evaluating the information submitted by the Prosecution, the Chamber accepts that ‘there is no reasonable expectation that he would cooperate with a summons to appear issued by the Court’,” the chamber said.

“In this regard, the Chamber observes that Mr Dela Rosa reportedly publicly threatened an investigator of the Prosecution and referred to those cooperating with the ICC investigation as ‘traitors’,” it added.

“Given the risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the Chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr Dela Rosa is necessary… to ensure his appearance before the Court and that he does not obstruct or endanger the investigation and/or the court proceedings,” it added.

In a press release, the ICC said the Pre-Trial Chamber I has unsealed an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa, which was originally “issued as secret” on November 6, 2025.

The ICC said the senator is “alleged to have committed the crime against humanity of murder (article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute), at least between 3 July 2016 and the end of April 2018, during which no less than 32 persons were killed, in the Republic of the Philippines."

(With reports from Joahna Lei Casilao, GMA News)