Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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.

Article (news)

SENATE- DELA ROSA

Jessie Cruzat

Karen De Guzman

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/177915670425920260513-senate-ronald-bato-dela-rosa-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday said authorities have leads on the whereabouts of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, but declined to provide details due to the ongoing investigation. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/did-robin-padilla-help-bato-leave-senate-2030">Did Robin Padilla help Bato leave Senate?</a></div><p>Matibag added that if there is anyone who may know Dela Rosa’s location, it would be Senator Robinhood Padilla.</p><p>Padilla on Monday said Dela Rosa was supposedly hiding from an alleged kidnapper, which is why he left the Senate last May 14.</p><p>Padilla also refused to answer if he helped Dela Rosa leave the Senate premises last Thursday amid claims that they left together. </p><p>Dela Rosa, a former national police chief who oversaw the previous administration’s war on drugs, has an outstanding warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). </p><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%2F961007266574806%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>Matibag urged Dela Rosa to face the legal process and respond to the ICC warrant.</div><p>“Galing siya sa law enforcement… it&#x27;s better na harapin niya ‘yung warrant niya, mag-submit siya. Harapin niya ‘yung kanyang pananagutan sa batas,” Matibag said. </p><p>He said voluntary submission would help restore public confidence in institutions, noting that controversies surrounding the incident have affected perceptions of the Senate.</p><p>“‘Yung sinasabi na nasira ‘yung Senado, that&#x27;s the only way also para ‘yung tao rin bumalik din ‘yung magandang pagtingin sa Senado,” he added. </p><p>The NBI chief stressed that the ICC warrant remains active and that Philippine law enforcement agencies are obligated to monitor developments and coordinate under existing commitments to the international tribunal.</p><p>“Nasa wanted list siya ng ICC. So, we have a commitment to the International Criminal Court. As a law enforcement, naka-monitor tayo,” Matibag said, adding that operational details on monitoring efforts are being withheld to avoid compromising law enforcement activities.</p><p>Matibag also noted that Dela Rosa’s camp has filed a petition before the Supreme Court, saying authorities will await the court’s ruling while continuing coordination among agencies.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE BODYCAM FOOTAGE RELEASED  </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><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%2F1391852392751168%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></strong>Meanwhile, the NBI has released new body-worn camera footage showing that the arrested NBI driver linked to the recent Senate gunfire incident was not carrying any firearm and was in a different area when the shooting occurred.</div><p>Authorities earlier said no firearm was recovered from the suspect, though ammunition was allegedly found in his sling bag.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/-wala-akong-pinaputok-nbi-driver-says-he-was-unarmed-denies-firing-gun-inside-senate-0731">&#x27;Wala akong pinaputok&#x27;: NBI driver says he was unarmed, denies firing gun inside Senate </a></div><p>The NBI volunteer also <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/nbi-driver-linked-to-senate-shooting-tests-positive-for-gunpowder-nitrates-0018">tested positive for gunpowder nitrates</a>, but officials cautioned that this alone does not conclusively prove involvement in firing a weapon.</p><p>“Titingnan natin kung ano ‘yung circumstances beyond that. In the court, ‘yun namang pagiging positive not necessarily mean na nagpaputok or what. So, hintayin na lang natin,” Matibag said.</p><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%2F977567554761109%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>The NBI driver has since been temporarily released after<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/nbi-driver-tagged-in-senate-shooting-freed-after-posting-bail-1658"> posting bail </a>on Monday. </div><p>He remains one of the subjects of an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong><strong></strong><br/></div><div><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/GEE57iY56sI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The NBI added that if there is anyone who may know Sen. Dela Rosa’s location, it would be Senator Robinhood Padilla.</p>

The NBI added that if there is anyone who may know Sen. Dela Rosa’s location, it would be Senator Robinhood Padilla.

NBI says has 'leads' on Dela Rosa's whereabouts

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NBI says has 'leads' on Dela Rosa's whereabouts

Jessie Cruzat,

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 19, 2026 10:17 AM PHT

|

Updated May 19, 2026 10:44 AM PHT

Read More:

nbi

bato

bato dela rosa

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robin padilla

icc

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