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Senator Risa Hontiveros holds a press conference in Pasay City on March 18, 2024, regarding the contempt case filed against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

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Senator Risa Hontiveros

<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/GBmvTXyj_P8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/16/hontiveros-maintains-no-arrest-can-be-made-in-senate-while-in-session-1444">clarified her stance </a>on the possible arrest of members of the Senate following the naming of former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s alleged co-perpetrators in his crimes against humanity case.</p><p>Among the eight named by the International Criminal Court as Duterte&#x27;s co-perpetrators were Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa, who served as Duterte&#x27;s first national police chief and drug war enforcer, and Sen. Bong Go, Duterte&#x27;s former long-time aide and special assistant.</p><p>&quot;Ayon sa batas, kung hindi kami in session at kung [ang] ina-allege na krimen ay above six years of imprisonment kung ma-convict, pwede kaming arestuhin,&quot; Hontiveros said in a press briefing. </p><p>Hontiveros said that while there is a tradition that affords senators some immunity from arrest, the Senate can always revisit that tradition, stressing accountability should take precedence over the chamber&#x27;s traditions. </p><p>&quot;Sa batas, puwedeng arestuhin ang senador basta&#x27;t hindi covered ng mas mababa sa anim na taong pagkakabilanggo, bilang parusa, at basta&#x27;t hindi in session ang Senado,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Ang sinasabi lang po namin ni Senate President [Vicente Sotto III] ay ang naging tradisyon. Ang tradisyon ay hindi inaaresto ang senador dito habang may session. Kung nagkakaroon na ng kalituhan doon, inaasahan ko, pag-uusapan sa caucus namin ang tradisyon iyan,&quot; Hontiveros said.</p><p>&quot;Inuulit ko po, ang pinakamataas na consideration ay accountability at consistently mula sa simula, ako’y nananawagan at naninindigan para sa accountability sa ganitong mga kaso man ng extrajudicial killings, crimes against humanity o kahit korapsyon.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LACSON: ICC WARRANTS SHOULD PASS THROUGH LOCAL COURTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has maintained that any arrest order from the ICC for any senator should first go through a local court.</p><p>Lacson insisted that the Senate should adhere to the Charter, particularly the provisions on immunity from arrest under Article VI, Section 11.</p><p>&quot;If we violate the law of the land, we have nothing to discuss. We are complying with the provisions of the Constitution, which is the fundamental law of the land. It is clear that there is immunity from arrest if the penalty is six years and below, and Congress is in session,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/17/should-icc-warrants-go-through-local-courts-before-they-can-be-enforced-1214?fbclid=IwY2xjawQBA3dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJ3R0V1bWs1NFhseTA0VjJic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjwbb9SqfKq_KqWSuzWIkaNrLZez9SoUPhkrlFi1qXiBFWLZyR2dcdENX0Y7_aem_W6a-Woh_8UXHWds_iza5sA">Should ICC warrants go through local courts before they can be enforced? Lawyers weigh in</a></div><p>Lacson&#x27;s press release cites Art. VI, Sec. 11 of the Constitution, &quot;[a] Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session. No Member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.&quot;</p><p>Lacson likewise said that while there is no clear definition at this time, the Constitution&#x27;s provision on &quot;in session&quot; could be interpreted to mean that the immunity from arrest would be &quot;lifted&quot; once the first regular session adjourns sine die on June 6.</p><p>Lacson likewise dismissed allegations of favoritism, pointing out that a purely &quot;selfish&quot; or &quot;practical&quot; politician might actually welcome the vacancies of Go and dela Rosa to secure the majority&#x27;s grip on the Senate.</p><p>&quot;If this were about politics and not the Constitution, for selfish reasons, one could argue for their turnover just to secure the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III. But that is not what I&#x27;m fighting for. It&#x27;s the Constitution, based on consultation with legal experts,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lacson brushed off criticisms as he asserted that his stand was carefully vetted through consultations.</p><p>&quot;For the record, before I put forward a legal opinion during media interviews or committee hearings, I do it in consultation with legal experts, even retired SC justices, on the subject matter for discussion. This way, I trust that I’m talking more sense than ordinary lawyers,&quot; he said in a post on X.</p><p>Lacson also stressed anew that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter on the issue.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m not saying I&#x27;m correct, but I will not concede that I am wrong and they are right. The Supreme Court has not ruled on this, and there is no legal precedent on this matter,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/16/hontiveros-maintains-no-arrest-can-be-made-in-senate-while-in-session-1444">clarified her stance </a>on a possible arrest of a member of the Senate following the naming of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators in his crimes against humanity case.</p>

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday clarified her stance on a possible arrest of a member of the Senate following the naming of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators in his crimes against humanity case.

Hontiveros clarifies stance on possible Senate arrest, says tradition can be revisited

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Hontiveros clarifies stance on possible Senate arrest, says tradition can be revisited

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 18, 2026 03:58 PM PHT

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Panfilo Lacson

Risa Hontiveros

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