Joselito Malig

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<p>(UPDATED) The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said Senator Ronald dela Rosa will be arrested if he tries to leave the Philippines.</p><p>Justice Sec Fredderick Vida, in a press briefing, confirmed an international Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest against  the former Philippine National Police chief.</p><p>&quot;I do confirm that there is a valid ICC arrest warrant and a pending request from ICC… it has been duly received by the Philippines,&quot; Justice Sec Fredderick Vida said.</p><p>&quot;The DOJ will treat any attempt of Sen. Bato dela Rosa to leave the country as a mockery of justice,&quot; Vida said. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m giving specific orders to law enforcement agencies for border control authorities that if Sen Bato dela Rosa would try to leave the country that the appropriate arrest should be made,&quot; he added. </p><p>&quot;He is under the protective custody of the Senate and we expect the appropriate turnover once all the legal issues have been resolved, the petition pending before the Supreme Court.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kung siya ay magtatangkang aalis ng Pilipinas, ibang usapan na iyon,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said the Philippine government “will definitely submit to the request of the ICC.”</p><p>The ICC on Monday unsealed the arrest warrant against the former Philippine police chief.</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>&quot;This arrest warrant against Mr Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa was issued confidentially, under seal, by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC on 6 November 2025,&quot; the document states.</p><p>The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 identified Dela Rosa &quot;as an alleged indirect co-perpetrator pursuant to article 25(3)(a) of the Statute for the crimes against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction of murder and attempted murder(articles 7(1)(a) and 23(3)(f) of the Statute), committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.&quot;</p><p>The period covers alleged summary killings while former President Rodrigo Duterte was Davao City mayor and during the government&#x27;s &quot;war on drugs&quot; while he was president. Dela Rosa served as Davao City police chief, and later Philippine National Police chief under Duterte.</p><p>&quot;As the alleged common plan to ‘neutralise’ alleged criminals in the Philippines concerns the period between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, 17 and the alleged murders considered below were committed between 3 July 2016 and the end of April 2018, on the territory of the Philippines, this conduct falls within the Court’s jurisdiction,&quot; the chamber said, referring to the period while the Philippines was still signatory of the Rome Statute that founded the ICC.</p><p>&quot;The Chamber finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe Mr Dela Rosa has committed the crime against humanity of murder,&quot; the warrant states.</p><p>After being absent since November 2025, Dela Rosa suddenly showed up in the Senate on Monday and participated in the ouster of former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and sought refuge to evade arrest.</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>A standoff later ensued in the Senate, after he was allegedly prevented by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from entering the premises.</p><p>He fled the Senate early Thursday, several hours after gunshots rang out  between Senate security personnel and NBI agents securing the nearby Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building. The Senate is located inside the GSIS complex.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/15/doj-forms-panel-to-probe-into-senate-gunfire-incident-1631">DOJ forms panel to probe into Senate gunfire incident</a></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/Lkj2po3Qy0w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said Senator Ronald dela Rosa will be arrested if he tries to leave the Philippines.</p>

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said Senator Ronald dela Rosa will be arrested if he tries to leave the Philippines.

DOJ: Dela Rosa will be arrested if he tries to leave PH

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DOJ: Dela Rosa will be arrested if he tries to leave PH

ABS-CBN News

Published May 15, 2026 04:25 PM PHT

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Updated May 15, 2026 04:53 PM PHT

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