Rowegie Abanto

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

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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.

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

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

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 17, 2025 11:13 AM PHT

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Updated March 17, 2025 12:43 PM PHT

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