Joselito Malig

Ronald Dela Rosa speaks to the media during an ambush interview at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to address ongoing issues pertaining to the ICC arrest warrant. Dela Rosa appeals for understanding and sympathy from his fellow uniformed service comrades.

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SENATE- DELA ROSA

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/1778837757623batopikit.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa speaks to the media during an ambush interview at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to address ongoing issues pertaining to the ICC arrest warrant. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</p><div><br/></div><p>MANILA (3RD UPDATE) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said Senator Ronald dela Rosa will be arrested if he tries to leave the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><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>Vida said while the DOJ respects the Senate as a co-equal branch of government, he expects the upper chamber, which placed Dela Rosa under its protective custody, to turn him over to the DOJ once all legal issues  have been resolved for his arrest. </p><p>&quot;The DOJ will treat any attempt of Sen. Bato dela Rosa to leave the country as a mockery of justice,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Kung siya ay magtatangkang aalis ng Pilipinas, ibang usapan na iyon,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has been issued against the senator.</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; Vida said.</p><p>He said the Office of the Solicitor General will submit its reply no later than Saturday to the Supreme Court order that asked government officials to comment on Dela Rosa&#x27;s plea for a restraining order on the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/13/sc-directs-government-to-comment-on-bato-s-plea-for-vs-icc-warrant-1824">SC asks gov&#x27;t to comment on Dela Rosa petition, no TRO issued</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;DELA ROSA NOT THE VICTIM&#x27;</strong></div><p>He said Dela Rosa is not the &quot;victim&quot; in the ongoing proceedings.</p><p>&quot;Mga kababayan ko, naliligaw din po tayo ng landas sa pagtingin natin sa proseso. Dito sa DOJ ang pilit nating pinupunto, tignan din po natin ang biktima. Tandaan po natin itong arrest warrant ni Sen Bato dela Rosa dahil may mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng katarungan,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Dito po sa DOJ pag may kinasuhan po kami, kaya nga po People of the Philippines, kakampi ng biktima yung people of the Philipines, inuusig natin. Tandaan po natin sa mga nakalatag na ebidesnsya sa ICC, may mga biktima po na naghahanap ng katarungan.&quot;</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 in the chamber 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><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NO LOCAL WARRANT&#x27;</strong></div><p>Dela Rosa&#x27;s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, meanwhile insisted that his clients is free to go anywhere because a local court has not issued a warrant against him.</p><p>&quot;Well that&#x27;s his opinion and I respect it, though I have a contrary opinion. Since there&#x27;s no warrant issued by a local court, there&#x27;s no warrant against him... his right to travel should not be impaired,&quot; Torreon said,</p><p>He also said he has no information on Dela Rosa&#x27;s whereabouts.</p><p>&quot;Dela Rosa left the Senate premises because he does not want to endanger senators, media,&quot; Torreon said.</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

Jojo Pasion Malig,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 15, 2026 04:25 PM PHT

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Updated May 15, 2026 06:35 PM PHT

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Ronald dela Rosa

Senate

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