Five senators push Bato dela Rosa to surrender

Five senators filed a resolution urging Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to authorities and pursue legal remedies following the issuance and transmittal of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Senate Resolution No. 395 was introduced by senators Kiko Pangilinan, Tito Sotto III, Ping Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, and Bam Aquino amid questions surrounding dela Rosa’s stay at the Senate under protective custody.

The measure was filed after the Senate, under the leadership of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, placed dela Rosa under protective custody on May 11 as he faced possible arrest tied to the ICC proceedings connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

“It is hereby resolved by the Senate of the Philippines, to urge Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ M. dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to the proper authorities and seek judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws and rules,” the resolution read.

The senators said the Constitution does not authorize the Senate to provide sanctuary or immunity from arrest beyond privileges specifically granted to lawmakers. 

They argued that parliamentary immunity is limited and does not apply to grave offenses or proceedings recognized under existing laws and international mechanisms.

“Neither the Constitution nor the Rules of the Senate contain any provision authorizing the Senate to grant protective custody, institutional refuge, or immunity from lawful arrest or surrender processes pursuant to existing laws, treaties, or international cooperation mechanisms,” the resolution stated.

In addition, the resolution noted earlier cases involving former senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Leila de Lima, and Juan Ponce Enrile, stating that the Senate had traditionally respected legal proceedings involving its members.

Dated November 2025 and made public on May 11 of the following year, the ICC warrant against dela Rosa was based on accusations related to his involvement in the government’s anti-drug campaign during his tenure as chief of the Philippine National Police.

The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber stated that there were strong indications that dela Rosa might be held criminally accountable for alleged crimes against humanity related to the campaign’s systematic executions.

The warrant also claimed that dela Rosa was involved in the formation of “a network of perpetrators” tasked with carrying out killings under the anti-drug operations and that trusted individuals were recruited and controlled as part of the alleged structure.

Dela Rosa declined to comment on the newly filed resolution, saying he had yet to read the measure.