Senator Ronald Dela Rosa answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News

Rowegie Abanto

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/174217708629220250124-harapan-bato-dela-rosa-mb-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Ronald Dela Rosa answers questions during the Harapan 2025 interviews at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on January 17, 2025. <em>Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa said Monday he would turn himself in to law enforcement when the protection he is expecting from the Senate ends over a possible release of a warrant of arrest for him from the International Criminal Court. </p><p>Serving as the first national police chief of his former boss Rodrigo Duterte, Dela Rosa was the chief architect of the ex-president&#x27;s so-called war on drugs. He is also one of the subjects of the ICC probe into the bloody campaign.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/war-on-drugs">LOOKBACK: War On Drugs: The Unheard Voices<br/></a></div><p>Duterte was arrested on an ICC warrant last week over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the yearslong anti-narcotics drive that led to the deaths of thousands of mostly poor suspected drug users and drug dealers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/rodrigo-duterte-at-icc-what-happens-next-0812">Rodrigo Duterte at ICC: What happens next?</a></div><p>The senator has said that he will seek the Senate&#x27;s protection in case an ICC warrant is issued for his arrest. But he told ANC that if the institution&#x27;s safeguards for him ends, he would surrender himself &quot;peacefully.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I dont wan&#x27;t to engage with my former subordinates in a gunfight. It’s gonna be useless,&quot; Dela Rosa said.</p><p>&quot;Alangan makipag-barilan ako sa kanila. I&#x27;ll talk to them… I&#x27;ll have a little discourse with them. If they insist on bringing me to the ICC then they can have me,&quot; he said.</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABVq8xSRYTmlM3T5"></script><p>&quot;I don’t want to make life miserable for my family.&quot;</p><p>When asked about possible jail time for his role in the war on drugs, Dela Rosa said, &quot;If that is my fate then I have to face it.&quot;</p><p>He maintained that the ICC no longer had jurisdiction over the Philippines since the country had left the tribunal in 2019. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/bato-ready-to-join-duterte-at-the-hague-if-all-legal-options-fail-1853">Bato ready to join Duterte at The Hague &#x27;if all legal options fail&#x27;</a></div><p>The ICC, however, has said that it retained jurisdiction over the alleged crimes that happened before the nation withdrew from the international tribunal.</p><p>Dela Rosa said he hoped that the Supreme Court would grant their petition. </p><p>He and Duterte, through his lawyers, petitioned for a temporary restraining order after the former president&#x27;s March 11 arrest, arguing that the country is no longer an ICC member. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/14/legal-experts-weigh-in-on-possible-clash-between-sc-and-icc-1842">Legal experts weigh in on possible clash between SC and ICC</a></div><p>Dela Rosa also sought a ruling from the Supreme Court since Duterte&#x27;s case could also affect him because of a possible ICC warrant for him.</p><p>The Supreme Court said Dela Rosa and Duterte &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/duterte-fails-to-get-immediate-tro-vs-arrest-1722">failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a TRO</a>,&quot; although it directed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and other respondents to comment within 10 days on the petition.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s children also filed separate petitions for the writ of habeas corpus to compel the government to return their father to the Philippines.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/can-the-supreme-court-order-the-icc-to-return-duterte-1124">Can the Philippines&#x27; top court order the ICC to return Duterte?<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/_8cUv68N7Yw?&amp;t=49s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Monday he would turn himself in to law enforcement when the protection he is expecting from the Senate ends over a possible release of a warrant of arrest for him from the International Criminal Court.</p>

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Monday he would turn himself in to law enforcement when the protection he is expecting from the Senate ends over a possible release of a warrant of arrest for him from the International Criminal Court.

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Dela Rosa says to turn himself in when Senate protection from possible ICC arrest ends

Dela Rosa says to turn himself in when Senate protection from possible ICC arrest ends

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 17, 2025 11:13 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 17, 2025 12:43 PM PHT

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