Marilyn Cahatol

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The hearing was also attended by officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Sec. Vince Dizon, along with representatives of contractors implicated in alleged ghost and substandard projects nationwide.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177856085195320250918-senate-flood-control-bato-dela-rosa-JC0368 (2).jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Ronald Dela Rosa attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The hearing was also attended by officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Sec. Vince Dizon, along with representatives of contractors implicated in alleged ghost and substandard projects nationwide. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; dela Rosa on Tuesday said the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/icc-confirms-arrest-warrant-against-dela-rosa-2111">warrant of arrest </a>the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued against him was based on “fabrication” by people who “want to bring down the Dutertes.”</div><p>“Sila ang nag-coordinate nitong lahat para pabagsakin ang mga Duterte. Kung hindi ito politics, bakit hindi nila ako kasuhan dito sa local court? They want us to vanish from the Philippine soil. Yun ang gusto nila kaya doon sila nag-file,” dela Rosa said in a press briefing inside the Senate building. </p><p>“Kahit isang murder walang finile sa akin kasi alam nilang wala akong pinatay na tao, at wala akong inutusan na ‘patayin ninyo iyan.&#x27; Yung mga ICC na yan, naniniwala sa kanilang fabrication. Everything is fabricated,” he added. </p><p>The ICC confirmed that it has issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, who, as the then-Philippine National Police chief, was the lead enforcer and architect of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/read-the-icc-s-unsealed-arrest-warrant-against-dela-rosa-2356">READ: The ICC&#x27;s unsealed arrest warrant against Dela Rosa</a></div><p>Dela Rosa maintained there was no abuse of power during his time as PNP chief.</p><p>He said: “Ang role ko is para mag-lead sa war on drugs. At it doesn’t mean, pag war on drugs, ay patayin lahat ng tao.” </p><p>“Of course, kung buhay ng mga pulis ay nasa bingit ng kamatayan ay dapat depensahan ang sarili nila,” he added. </p><p>ABS-CBN News’ data showed that at least 7,000 individuals had been killed during the six-year execution of the war on drugs. Human rights advocates say the actual number may be higher. </p><p>Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he will respond to the subpoena issued by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) either personally or through a legal representative. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/-emb-pnp-cidg-subpoena-out-vs-bato-over-davao-ejk-probe-0942">PNP-CIDG serves subpoena against Bato in Senate over alleged Davao EJKs</a></div><p>The agency requires him to personally appear before investigators as part of a continuing Philippine National Police (PNP) investigation into Dela Rosa’s actions during his stint as Davao City police director and regional director of the Davao Region before Duterte assumed presidency. </p><p>When asked if he will face a local court should the subpoena progress into a charge, he said: “Basta sa local lang, harapin natin iyan.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/nbi-chief-matibag-dela-rosa-will-not-be-arrested-while-under-senate-custody-2308">NBI chief Matibag: Dela Rosa will not be arrested while under Senate custody</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘6 MONTHS NO SALARY’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Dela Rosa reiterated that over the past six months during which he failed to attend to his duties in the Senate, he kept his salary sealed and unused.</p><p>“The past six months, hindi ko natanggap ang sweldo ko. Yung aking secretary, kinukuha yung sweldo. Paano ko makuha e wala ako dito.”</p><p>“Wala sa bokabularyo ko na makinabang sa pera ng gobyerno o kanino mang pera na iniisahan ko na hindi ko binibigyan ng kaukulang serbisyo. Nahihiya ako. Kaya lumabas na rin ako,” he said. </p><p>Dela Rosa had not attended Senate proceedings since November 2025, when Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him.</p><p>The senator thanked Remulla for warning him then, which he said allowed him to enjoy six months of freedom.</p><p>“Salamat ako sayo, sir. Salamat at nabigyan mo ako ng advance info na meron akong warrant. Thank you, at naka-enjoy ako ng six months by my lonesome at nakapag-bible study ako nang husto for six months,” he said. </p><p>The senator said he plans to stay inside the Senate building, adding: “I’m just hopeful sa<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/bato-camp-files-supplemental-motion-at-sc-vs-icc-arrest-warrant-1129"> Supreme Court</a> na sana panindigan nila ang ating soberanya. Yun lang ang pakiusap ko.”</p><p>Dela Rosa <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/bato-dela-rosa-returns-to-senate-after-months-long-absence-1522">resurfaced </a>in the Senate Monday afternoon for the plenary session that ousted Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/cayetano-replaces-sotto-as-senate-president-1539">placed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano at its helm.</a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a8ZC2q0LOlg?si=DMR4LcK2LcT58sWs" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Sen. Bato dela Rosa on Tuesday said the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/11/icc-confirms-arrest-warrant-against-dela-rosa-2111">warrant of arrest </a>the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued against him was based on “fabrication” by people who “want to bring down the Dutertes.”</p>

Sen. Bato dela Rosa on Tuesday said the warrant of arrest the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued against him was based on “fabrication” by people who “want to bring down the Dutertes.”

'They want us to vanish': Bato says ICC arrest warrant based on ‘fabrication’ by Duterte critics

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'They want us to vanish': Bato says ICC arrest warrant based on ‘fabrication’ by Duterte critics

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 12, 2026 01:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Bato Dela Rosa

Senate

ICC

war on drugs

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