Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on August 1, 2023. Joseph B. Vidal, Senate PRIB/File

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SENATE

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176282320252920230801-ph-senate-dela-rosa-SPRIB-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on August 1, 2023. <em>Joseph B. Vidal, Senate PRIB/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(4th UPDATE) </strong>— The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said surrendering Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa to the International Criminal Court (ICC)—if and when it releases an arrest warrant—remains an option aside from the longer process of extradition.</p><p>DOJ chief state counsel Dennis Chan made the clarification after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Dela Rosa will not be automatically surrendered to the ICC.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/bato-s-camp-urges-caution-restraint-amid-reports-on-icc-arrest-warrant-1637">Bato’s camp urges caution, restraint amid reports on ICC arrest warrant</a></div><p>“To close the door on one option and just focus entirely on extradition is limiting the state’s discretion,” Chan said.</p><p>Chan noted that under Republic Act No. 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity, the Philippine government has both extradition and surrender options.</p><p>Asked however if surrendering Dela Rosa will be the faster route, Chan admitted that extradition process may take a longer time for the government to implement the arrest warrant.</p><p>“We are looking at possibly months, whereas kung surrender very, definitely shorter ang process,” Chan said.</p><p>Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said that while there are two options being considered, the Philippine government is inclined to comply if a request will be made.</p><p>“I believe we will have to comply,” Fadullon said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>YET TO RECEIVE ARREST REQUEST</strong></div><p>Chan and Fadullon reiterated that the Philippine government has not received any request from the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol to arrest Dela Rosa.</p><p>Last Saturday, former DOJ secretary and now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa has been issued by the ICC.</p><p>Fadullon also noted that if and when an arrest warrant is out, courtesy will be given to the Supreme Court to resolve the petitions filed questioning Duterte’s arrest, including the one filed by Dela Rosa.  </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/9/alleged-icc-warrant-vs-bato-figment-of-remulla-s-fertile-imagination-says-duterte-lawyer-1201">Alleged ICC warrant vs Bato &#x27;figment of Remulla&#x27;s fertile imagination,&#x27; says Duterte lawyer</a></div><p>“Obviously this time we want to be more careful, because the circumstances then and the circumstances now are quite different, at that time there was no petition yet or case filed with the Supreme Court, now, as a courtesy to the Supreme Court we would probably have to await, or we would prefer to await the resolution of the Supreme Court,” Fadullon said.</p><p>The DOJ also clarified concerns that under an extradition process, there will have to be a requesting state.</p><p>Chan said the ICC may qualify as a requesting state but another complication is the lack of an extradition treaty with the court.</p><p>“Now ang question diyan is if they come up with a request for extradition, wala tayong treaty to begin with ICC to process that,” Chan said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INTERNATIONAL LAWYER</strong></div><p>Vice President Sara Duterte, meanwhile, said she would recommend an England-based legal counsel to Dela Rosa, following the reported arrest warrant issued by the ICC.</p><p>Speaking at the sidelines of her event at Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Duterte said she already advised the senator regarding his alleged case.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ako maka-comment sa warrant of arrest dahil wala siya doon sa mga pronouncements, public pronouncements ng ICC. Pero gayunpaman, as early as April of this year, nagsabi na rin talaga ako kay Senator Bato dela Rosa na maghanda siya sa kung ano man ang mga posibleng mangyari patungkol sa ICC case,&quot; said Duterte.</p><p>&quot;Ang sinabi ko sa kanya rin na ang paghahanda niya magsisimula sa pagpili niya sa isang international law expert at may experience sa ICC na abugado para nabibigyan siya ng advise sa kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin,&quot; she added.</p><p>The Vice President said she knows a &quot;good&quot; legal counsel based in England to help the senator with his case. </p><p>She said as soon as she heard of the reports on his arrest warrant, she was able to talk to one of his children, Macky Dela Rosa-Estoesta. </p><p>&quot;Sabi ko kay Macky, kung interesado man si Senator Bato Dela Rosa na abugado, mayroon akong maire-recommend sa kanya na isang counsel doon based sa England – yung international law expert,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HINDI NYA PINANSIN&#x27;</strong></div><p>Kristina Conti, ICC assistant to counsel, said Tuesday that a warrant of arrest could be issued against a person subject of its investigation who had ignored its summons.</p><p>Conti noted that Dela Rosa previously admitted to<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/3/bato-says-icc-may-have-already-contacted-him-but-he-ignored-it-1317"> ignoring ICC attempts </a>to reach him.</p><p>&quot;Remember that two years back there was talk that he was being summoned or invited to the ICC to cooperate. Hindi niya pinansin, sineen, kaya siguro ‘yung ICC, o ayan mukhang hindi makikipag-cooperate ito voluntarily and a warrant of arrest will be issued,&quot; she told ANC.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/doj-working-to-verify-alleged-icc-issuance-of-warrant-for-dela-rosa-1102">DOJ &#x27;working to verify&#x27; alleged ICC issuance of warrant for Dela Rosa</a></div><p>Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, was accused to be former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s co-perpetrator in his brutal drug war.</p><p>Duterte has been detained in The Hague, the Netherlands since March to face a crimes against humanity charge related to the drug war. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LIMITS OF SENATE &#x27;PROTECTION&#x27;<br/></strong></div><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said that while he wants to offer Dela Rosa some moral support, he knows that the embattled senator was aware that he cannot claim sanctuary at the Senate against any warrant of arrest from the ICC.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/bato-s-rumored-icc-warrant-cayetano-cries-due-process-some-house-reps-call-for-arrest-1701">Bato&#x27;s rumored ICC warrant: Cayetano cries due process, some House reps call for arrest</a></div><p>&quot;Limited. Kasi yung Constitution is very clear on the matter. First, kung less than six years yung penalty, may immunity from arrest. When Congress is in session, yun ang mga limitations. Kaya kung hindi in session ang Congress, hindi ma-avail yung immunity from arrest. And, yun nga, six years or less,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>&quot;But we support, we in the majority, support the pronouncement of the Senate President na as long as he is in the Senate premises, at least man lang yung courtesy na wag gawin dito yung arrest,&quot; he added.</p><p>Senate President Vicente Sotto III also maintained that they will not allow Dela Rosa to be arrested inside the Senate premises while the chamber is in session.</p><p>&quot;Lalo na pag nagsesesyon, yun ang pinakabawal sa lahat. Habang nagesesyon, may darating na aarestuhin  yung senador. Hindi kami papayag. Kahit sino pa yun.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/9/rumored-icc-warrant-for-bato-raises-questions-on-how-and-if-one-would-be-implemented-2042">WRAP: Rumored ICC warrant for Bato raises questions on how, and if, one would be implemented</a></div><p>Lacson joked that he won&#x27;t guide Dela Rosa on how to elude arrest.</p><p>&quot;Hindi pa naman siya naka-decide kung magtatago eh. Kung mag-decide siya magtago, tuturuan ko siya kung paano magtago. Joke lang,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lacson revealed he reached out to dela Rosa as they are both former chiefs of the PNP. Both have also faced arrest warrants over court cases but Lacson&#x27;s case was before a Philippine court. <strong>— With r</strong><strong>eports from RG Cruz, Job Manahan and Rowegie Abanto, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pWbVf_smfwA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IbKQAU5NcjU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Justice said on Tuesday that it has not received the supposed International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.</p>

The Department of Justice said on Tuesday that it has not received the supposed International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

Surrendering Bato to ICC also an option aside from 'longer' extradition: DOJ

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Surrendering Bato to ICC also an option aside from 'longer' extradition: DOJ

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 11, 2025 09:07 AM PHT

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Updated November 11, 2025 03:53 PM PHT

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