Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

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/1778539677656Screen Shot 2026-05-12 at 6.41.55 AM.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Senator Bato Dela Rosa lifted the spirits of the crowd through a video call.<em> CA Sitson, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa gathered outside the Senate grounds in Pasay City from Monday until the early hours of Tuesday, May 12, to show support for the senator, who remains under Senate custody.</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>According to the Southern Police District (SPD), the crowd peaked at around 300 during the vigil in front of the Senate&#x27;s main gate.</p><p>“Tuloy-tuloy lang po kaming susuporta kay Senator Dela Rosa, hanggang magdamag po kami rito,” said Robert, one of the supporters.</p><p>Christian Goma, another supporter, echoed this sentiment: “Bilang Duterte supporters, willing po kami na samahan si Senator Bato Dela Rosa kahit abutin pa po ng ilang araw, linggo, buwan, o taon. Mananatili po at maninindigan kami para sa karapatan ni Senator Bato. Karapatan po niyang mag-stay sa Senado dahil isa siyang senador.”</p><p>Despite the rain and the long wait, the morale remained high. “</p><p>Kahit magdamag, umuulan, maghihintay kami rito para suportahan si Senator Bato Dela Rosa. Hindi po mababayaran ng pera ang suporta namin sa mga Duterte at sa Pilipinas,” Jean Pandian added.</p><p>Some supporters were even seen dancing past 2:00 a.m. to keep their energy up.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1961308198080349%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>To ensure peace and order, more than 100 police personnel were deployed.</div><p>“Andito kami for peace and order and to implement maximum tolerance. Wala namang nasaktan, hindi naman nagkaroon ng matinding girian. Kung nariyan sila, narito rin kami,” said Brig. Gen. Glenn Oliver Cinco, SPD District Director.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MIDNIGHT VIDEO CALL</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Senator Dela Rosa lifted the spirits of the crowd through a video call. Cheers of “Mabuhay!” erupted as the senator appeared on screen.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1629545031632210%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>“Hindi ako ang mahal ninyo. Ang mahal niyo &#x27;yung bansa natin. Mahal ko kayong lahat, para ito sa inyong lahat. I am willing to die for you, and for this country,” Dela Rosa told the crowd.</div><p>The senator revealed that his arrival at the Senate was a calculated move to participate in the recent leadership change.</p><p>“‘Yung anim na buwan na wala ako, kahit anong gawin nila, hindi nila ako makuha, hindi nila ako makita. Pero ang ginawa ko, bumiyahe ako rito sa Manila para makatulong, para magbago ang liderato ng Senado. Despite the fact na grabe ang preparasyon nila para hulihin ako, nalusutan pa rin natin sila dahil nariyan si Lord,&quot; he added.</p><p>Recounting the alleged pursuit by an NBI agent within the Senate premises, Dela Rosa said: “Ang aking iniisip talaga is kung paano ako makakarating sa Session Hall na hindi nila ako mahawakan, para makasama ako roon sa pagboto para sa pagbabago ng liderato.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He also delivered a message to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>“Sana alagaan niya lahat ng Pilipino. &#x27;Yun lang ang pakiusap ko sa kanya. Siya ang ating ama. Walang mangyayari sa Pilipinas kung walang direksyon. President BBM, I am a Filipino, I am your constituent.”</p><p>Dela Rosa also questioned the involvement of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in the service of the ICC warrant.</p><p>“Si Trillanes, hindi ko alam kung anong papel niyan sa mundo, bakit siya ang may dala-dala ng warrant? Hindi naman siya miyembro ng ICC, Interpol, o PCTC,&quot; Dela Rosa questioned.</p><p>He concluded by calling for due process. </p><p>“Sundin lang &#x27;yung proseso. Kung maglabas ng warrant ang ICC, ito’y dadaan sa proseso, sa ating mga local court, para bigyan ako ng chance na depensahan ang sarili ko before the Filipino court. Sana i-advise ni Pangulong BBM &#x27;yung kanyang law enforcement agencies na sundin &#x27;yung sinabi ng Supreme Court.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><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/MeL7I3wyycQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></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/SMMdw7-5AbI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/B9xDUYmRgPo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>'Despite the fact na grabe ang preparasyon nila para hulihin ako, nalusutan pa rin natin sila dahil nariyan si Lord,' Sen. Bato dela Rosa said.</p>

'Despite the fact na grabe ang preparasyon nila para hulihin ako, nalusutan pa rin natin sila dahil nariyan si Lord,' Sen. Bato dela Rosa said.

In video call with supporters, Bato dela Rosa claims 'divine help' in evading arrest ahead of Senate coup

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In video call with supporters, Bato dela Rosa claims 'divine help' in evading arrest ahead of Senate coup

Christopher Sitson,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 12, 2026 06:52 AM PHT

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