Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (UPDATED) - National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Monday night said Senator Dela Rosa will not be arrested while he is under Senate custody. </p><p>Matibag issued the statement after meeting with new Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.</p><p>“Yung ICC warrant, it&#x27;s there already and there was also a resolution I understand that the Senate mentioned that Senator Bato will be under their custody. So kami naman, on the executive side, we will respect the co-equal branch. So we will hope that kapag kailangan sumagot ni Senator Bato dun sa mga kailangan sagutin legally… si Senate will be ready to present Senator Dela Rosa,” Matibag explained. </p><p>“We&#x27;ll have communication with the DOJ and PCTC also and of course the Interpol that if there are any invitation or anything that will be communicated probably we will suggest that it should be channelled to the Senate President,” he added.</p><p>Matibag and other NBI agents left the Senate past 9 in the evening.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Cayetano: No Bato arrest tonight</strong></div><p>Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed Matibag&#x27;s statement.</p><p>&quot;According to the NBI director, as soon as they heard na ang stand officially ng Senate, yung Senate Resolution 44 at yung manifestation ni Senator Marcoleta na dapat dumaan &#x27;to sa korte, hindi na nila pinursue na arestuhin siya ngayon,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/bato-dela-rosa-returns-to-senate-after-months-long-absence-1522">Bato dela Rosa returns to Senate after months-long absence</a></div><p>Cayetano urged the government to go through the courts for the enforcement of dela Rosa&#x27;s arrest by the International Criminal Court.  </p><p>&quot;But ang appeal ko sa kanila, palakasin natin ang mga korte sa Pilipinas.Walang mawawala sa atin kung mag-a-apply sila ng warrant sa ko-- sa korte at pababayaan nila yung due process, lahat ng legal remedies. It will strengthen us, not, not weaken us,&quot; he said.</p><p>Cayetano said the NBI chief  told him they coordinated with former Senate President Vicente Sotto III.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/icc-confirms-arrest-warrant-against-dela-rosa-2111">ICC confirms arrest warrant against Dela Rosa</a></div><p>&quot;According to him, coordinated kay Senate President, ah, Tito Sotto ang pagpasok nila.So ang balik namin sa kanya, coordinated man ang pagpasok niyo, hindi naman siguro, wala naman siguro nagbigay ng pahintulot makipaghabulan. So sinasabi niya that is incidence of the arrest.So we agreed to disagree at mag-fact finding. We explained to him that this is not a criminal or a administrative case that needs, ah, further study at meron pong due process.&quot;</p><p>Cayetano said NBI agents involved in the alleged scuffle with Dela Rosa have been held in contempt but they were returned to the NBI chief&#x27;s custody. </p><p>&quot;This is a contempt case. So we agreed na kaso magsiksikan sila dito o inhumane dito. Under his custody pero hindi niya pauuwiin. He will hold them in the NBI. He will ask them to explain then write me officially tomorrow.&quot;</p><p>Cayetano said the NBI will have a separate accountability for the alleged mauling. </p><p>He said the NBI will not allowed to enter the premises Tuesday. &quot;Hindi pwede. Sinabi naman niya kaya hindi naman daw sila papasok kung hindi sila pinayagan. Ang request lang ng ibang senador not to suspend until tomorrow, until sure na wala nang natira. Marami kasing text, text, maraming mga balita na tinitingnan yung ibang kotse, nandiyan sa labas, may armas.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Spending the night in the Senate</strong></div><p> Dela Rosa will spend the night inside the Senate, according to acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca.</p><p>“Under custody siya ng Senate, so he will stay here,” Aplasca said.</p><p>He also assured that security is tight within the Senate premises and confirmed that all NBI personnel  who attempted to arrest Dela Rosa have already left.</p><p>“We have an agreement with the NBI and the PNP that they will abide by the decision of the new Senate leadership that no arrests will be made inside the Senate premises,” Aplasca explained.</p><p>Regarding protesters, Aplasca said they respect the right to hold rallies and assured that additional security has been put in place, with augmentation from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).</p><p>Security will remain tight given the Senate&#x27;s currently elevated alert status.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></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/bh_RtAhZgj0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/><strong></strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong><br/></div>

<p>National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Monday night said Senator Dela Rosa will not be arrested while he is under Senate custody. </p>

National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Monday night said Senator Dela Rosa will not be arrested while he is under Senate custody.

NBI chief Matibag: Dela Rosa will not be arrested while under Senate custody

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NBI chief Matibag: Dela Rosa will not be arrested while under Senate custody

Victoria Tulad,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 11, 2026 11:08 PM PHT

|

Updated May 12, 2026 12:42 AM PHT

Read More:

NBI

ICC

Ronald dela Rosa

Senate

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