Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Even while the supposed arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa has yet to be confirmed, supporters and critics of Bato and of the drug war have made their positions clear.</p><p>Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, a known ally of Dela Rosa and who defended the drug war while he was foreign affairs secretary, said the Supreme Court has already spoken regarding extradition proceedings.</p><p>&quot;The Court has drawn the line clearly: extradition, and all acts of justice, must be rooted in law and due process, not in bias or emotion,&quot; said Cayetano in a statement.</p><p>According to the April 2025 rules released by the Supreme Court, the justice secretary or authorized state counsels must file a petition with the extradition court, which will check for validity in form and substance, compliance with laws and treaties, and for probable cause.</p><p>Lawyer Ephraim Cortez, president of the National Union of People&#x27;s Lawyers, has argued on social media that those rules only apply to states.</p><p>&quot;The ICC cannot qualify as a &#x27;requesting party&#x27;, since it is not a state. ICC is a special mechanism created pursuant to the Rome Statute,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CAYETANO CALLS ON SENATE LEADERSHIP TO BACK BATO<br/></strong></div><p>Cayetano said that the Senate leadership should assure that the law will be implemented to protect its integrity.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/8/doj-working-to-verify-alleged-icc-issuance-of-warrant-for-dela-rosa-1102"><strong>DOJ &#x27;working to verify&#x27; alleged ICC issuance of warrant for Dela Rosa</strong></a></div><p>&quot;I call on the Senate leadership to uphold this principle by protecting both the institution and the integrity of our laws. Let us show that the Senate stands not for privilege, but for fairness — that we will uphold for our members only what we are willing to uphold for every Filipino: justice without bias, and equality before the law.&quot;</p><p>In a message to the media, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he has no information on the supposed warrant.</p><p>He said, however, that the Senate cannot allow Dela Rosa&#x27;s arrest within the chamber&#x27;s premises &quot;to preserve the dignity of the Senate and as a matter of institutional courtesy.&quot;</p><p>Beyond the Senate halls, he said, any potential arrest would be &quot;no longer our concern.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE MEMBERS: WARRANT MUST BE IMPLEMENTED</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, several House members expressed their support for the implementation of the supposed arrest warrant.</p><p>In a joint statement, ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan Party-List Rep. Renee Louise Co and Gabriela Party-List Rep. Sarah Elago, said it is high time that Dela Rosa should face the consequences of his role in the so called &quot;war against drugs&quot; of former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>They said that Dela Rosa, as chief implementor of the drug war, &quot;must be held accountable for the widespread killings and abuses committed under this campaign.&quot; </p><p>They added that there should be no compromise or special treatment from the Marcos administration for the Duterte camp. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/13/icc-prosecutors-may-seek-bato-arrest-while-court-awaits-duterte-fitness-test-lawyer-1115"><strong>ICC prosecutors may seek Bato arrest while court awaits Duterte fitness test: lawyer</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Hindi dapat gawing taguan ang Senado upang makaiwas sa pag-aresto. Hindi rin dapat humarang ang Korte Suprema sa pagsulong ng hustisya,&quot; stressed Co.</p><p>(The Senate should not serve as a hiding place to evade arrest and the Supreme Court should not stand in the way of justice)</p><p>Elago, for her part, said the public should be vigilant and keep pressing for accountability for the drug war deaths..</p><p>In a separate statement, Akbayan Party-List Rep. Perci Cendaña said Dela Rosa should &quot;face the music&quot; and fulfill his promise to face the charges head on. </p><p>&quot;Sa mga nagnakaw at umutang ng dugo at buhay ng libu-libo nating mga kababayan, na karamihan ay mahihirap, darating at darating ang paniningil ng katarungan,&quot; said Cendana. </p><p>(Justice will come for those who took lives and have blood debts for the killings of thousands, many of them poor)</p><p>Cendaña said Dela Rosa should face the case with the same bravado that he displayed in declaring he was ready to be held accountable for the drug war.</p>

<p>Even while the supposed arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has yet to be confirmed, supporters and critics of Bato and of the drug war have made their positions clear.</p>

Even while the supposed arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has yet to be confirmed, supporters and critics of Bato and of the drug war have made their positions clear.

Bato's rumored ICC warrant: Cayetano cries due process, some House reps call for arrest

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Bato's rumored ICC warrant: Cayetano cries due process, some House reps call for arrest

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 08, 2025 05:01 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 08, 2025 06:55 PM PHT

Read More:

Ronald dela Rosa

Arrest Warrant

ICC

Alan Peter Cayetano

ACT Teachers Party

Antonio Tinio

Kabataan Party

Renee Louise Co

Gabriela Party Sarah Elago

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