Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa speaks to members of the media outside his office at the Philippine Senate on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, a day after the International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant for him in relation to the crime against humanity case filed against the senator. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SEN BATO DELA ROSA

Bea Cuadra

Victoria Tulad

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/177863240665020260512-senate-ronald-dela-rosa-MT5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa speaks to members of the media outside his office at the Philippine Senate on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, a day after the International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant for him in relation to the crime against humanity case filed against the senator. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday stood his ground against calls for his surrender, telling his colleagues in the Senate to “wait” as he exhausts all legal remedies regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/sotto-4-other-senators-urge-dela-rosa-to-surrender-2042">Sotto, 4 other senators urge Dela Rosa to surrender</a></div><p>Senate Resolution 395 of Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, urged Dela Rosa “to voluntarily surrender to the proper authorities and seek judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws and rules.” </p><p>Dela Rosa said he has not yet read the Resolution.</p><p>“Kung ang meat niyan ay pag-surrender, makiusap rin ako sa kanila na huwag masyado kayong atat na atat na makulong ako. Hintayin lang ninyo. Pabigyan lang niyo ako ng tsansa na i-avail yung remaining legal remedies na puwede kong i-avail. So, huwag din silang atat na atat,” Dela Rosa remarked.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SADDENED, HURT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Dela Rosa said he was saddened that his fellow senators are asking him to surrender, but was particularly hurt that Lacson is one of the authors of the Resolution.</p><p>“Malungkot. Mga kasama natin yan eh,” Dela Rosa said</p><p>“Matagal kami nagkasama sa Senado. Eh ganun ganun na lang tayo na parang umalis ka dito. Hindi ka na, kuwan, hindi ka namin kailangan. Sumurrender ka. Ang gano&#x27;n, di ba?”</p><p>“Lalong-lalong na kasama si Senator Ping Lacson. Hindi ko naimagine bakit ginaganon niya ako. Malungkot ako, nasasaktan ako. Kasi siya ay dati kong boss. Ako ay nagsilbi nang tapat sa kanya. Lahat ng inutos niya sa akin, ginagawa ko. Nung kami ay nasa Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force pa noon. Malungkot lang ako. Malungkot lang ako. Dahil yung dating boss ko ay nag-advise sa akin ng ganoon,” he added. </p><p>Lacson clarified that the Resolution says Dela Rosa may seek judicial remedies.</p><p>“My understanding of the proposed Senate resolution is for Sen. Dela Rosa to voluntary surrender after seeking and exhausting all judicial remedies but fail to get judicial relief,” Lacson said in a message. </p><p>“I will have this matter further clarified during the interpolation and amendment of the proposed resolution,” he added. </p><p>Dela Rosa meanwhile refused to confirm if he was aboard the vehicle of a fellow senator when he came to the Senate last Monday. </p><p>“Whatever mode of transportation na ginamit ko papunta dito, wala na silang pakialam dahil illegal ba yun? Kung makikisakay ako sa ibang sasakyan, illegal ba yun? Eh kung sasakay ako ng habal-habal para lang makarating sa Senado, hindi naman siguro illegal,” Dela Rosa stated.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SUPREME COURT <br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Supreme Court is expected to hold a special en banc session to deliberate on his request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). </p><p>Despite the high stakes, Dela Rosa expressed confidence in the judicial process while maintaining his readiness for any outcome.</p><p>“Inaasahan ko po na magiging patas &#x27;yung ating Supreme Court. Magiging patas. At sana walang... they should be free from pressures,” he stated. “Win or lose, at least the Supreme Court has spoken on the issue.”</p><p>Addressing the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued by a Philippine court, Dela Rosa clarified that his cooperation remains tied to domestic legal processes. </p><p>He emphasized that there are still “available options” and “remedies” to explore, noting that should a local court issue a warrant, he intends to “elevate the matter to a higher court.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;RUN FOR YOUR LIFE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Senator also addressed recent CCTV footage showing an encounter between himself and individuals identifying as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents. </p><p>He characterized the incident as an instinctive escape.</p><p>“Run for your life! Run for your life because arestuhin ka na eh,” Dela Rosa recalled. </p><p>“Nu&#x27;ng dinakma ako nu&#x27;ng dalawang babae, &#x27;Sir, sir, mga NBI kami,&#x27; nu&#x27;ng dinakma ako, eh nagpumiglas ako. Nagpiglas, tumakbo ako.”</p><p>He denied allegations of intentional aggression, describing his actions as &quot;wrestling&quot; to get away rather than an attempt to harm the agents.</p><p>For now, the senator said he is prepared to remain within the halls of the Senate, even suggesting he might take up residence there to fulfill his duties.</p><p>“Pwede naman akong magtitira rito hangga&#x27;t senador ako. &#x27;Yun pa, baka makatipid ako ng gasolina,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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/MeL7I3wyycQ?&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-cbn.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday stood his ground against calls for his surrender, telling his colleagues in the Senate to “wait” as he exhausts all legal remedies regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation.</p>

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday stood his ground against calls for his surrender, telling his colleagues in the Senate to “wait” as he exhausts all legal remedies regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation.

'Maghintay sila': Dela Rosa rejects 'surrender' resolution, vows to exhaust legal remedies

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'Maghintay sila': Dela Rosa rejects 'surrender' resolution, vows to exhaust legal remedies

Bea Cuadra,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 13, 2026 08:36 AM PHT

|

Updated May 13, 2026 03:08 PM PHT

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Senator Bato Dela Rosa

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