Jamaine Punzalan

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa turns emotional while speaking with fellow Senator Bong Go during the start of the plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News.

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Adrian Ayalin

Karen De Guzman

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<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/177933990604420260512-senate-bato-dela-rosa-crying-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa turns emotional while speaking with fellow Senator Bong Go during the start of the plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(3rd UPDATE) </strong>— Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation had been “tasked to effect the arrest” of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa. </p><p>This, after the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/sc-rejects-bato-dela-rosa-s-tro-request-vs-icc-warrant-1422">refused Wednesday to block the arrest of Dela Rosa</a>, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over his role as former national police chief and enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s deadly drug war.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/nbi-says-has-leads-on-bato-s-whereabouts-1017">NBI says has &#x27;leads&#x27; on Dela Rosa&#x27;s whereabouts </a></div><p>“I would like to confirm that Philippine law enforcement agencies — the PNP, NBI — are now tasked to effect the arrest of Sen. Dela Rosa,” Vida said.</p><p>&quot;Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice. He should be brought to the ICC to face the charges,&quot; he added.</p><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/rS6zaIkyuBI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Vida refused to provide details on government efforts and declined to use the term manhunt, calling it a &quot;dramatic&quot; term.</p><p>&quot;They will effect the arrest warrant,” Vida said.</p><p>He also warned those “who might be aiding or abetting or helping Sen. Bato evade the law” that there would be consequences for doing so.</p><p>Vida assured the public that Dela Rosa will be given due process, in the Philippines and in The Hague in the Netherlands, but also said victims of the drug war also need closure. </p><p>“Iyong mga kababayan natin na naghahanap ng kataraungan, ngayon patay na sila eh hindi na sila pwedeng kumuha ng abogado, hindi na sila pwedeng kumuha ng TRO,&quot; he said, adding government is obliged to help them seek justice.</p><p>(Our people seeking justice — they are now dead, so they cannot get lawyers, they cannot seek a TRO)</p><p>Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities would heed Vida&#x27;s directive. </p><p>Earlier, the PNP said it was still waiting for legal guidance and instructions on the potential enforcement of the ICC warrant.</p><p>PNP Public Information Office chief PBGen. Randulf Tuaño said the matter is up to the of the Department of Justice, the PNP, the NBI, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.</p><p>He also said he could neither confirm nor deny whether the PNP had already received a copy of the warrant or if an Interpol red notice had already been transmitted.</p><p>He said the PNP and NBI&#x27;s role will only be in assisting Interpol Manila.</p><p>The PNP earlier said it has sufficient personnel to implement a warrant of arrest against any individual, while the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group would primarily serve in an assisting capacity should authorities proceed with the implementation of the ICC warrant.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘DO EVERYTHING’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Malacañang said the government would “do everything” to “enforce justice.”  </p><p>“Maliwanag ang sinabi ng DOJ na enforceable ang warrant of arrest laban kay Sen. Bato,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters in a text message.</p><p>(The DOJ has clearly said the warrant of arrest for Sen. Bato is enforceable.)</p><p>She said the public can expect the government to take appropriate action on Dela Rosa&#x27;s arrest.</p><p>“Lahat ay gagawin ng ating mga opisyal para maibigay ang  hustisya sa lahat,” she added.</p><p>(Our officials will do everything to provide justice to all.)</p><p>In a separate statement, Sen. Risa Hontiveros reiterated her call for her colleague to respect the rule of law and submit to and cooperate with authorities.</p><p>&quot;I pray for the peaceful and lawful resolution of this situation which has already affected multiple institutions, and the entire country itself,&quot; she also said.</p><p>Kabataan Party-List Rep. Renee Co, a lawyer, meanwhile noted that the police seem to be giving their former national chief &quot;so much time and courtesy&quot; in stark contrast to how they treat citizens.</p><p>&quot;Kapag mga journalist, aktibista, o concerned na mamamayan ilang araw lang, may warrant na at aarestuhin na agad,&quot; she said.</p><p>(When it is against journalists, activists or concerned citizens, warrants and arrests come in a matter of days.)</p><p>She said that aside from the order to arrest Dela Rosa, the government should issue orders to prevent him from leaving the country.</p><div>   </div><div><strong>SC DENIES PLEA FOR TRO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>The Supreme Court, voting 9-5-1, has denied Dela Rosa&#x27;s plea for a TRO and a Status Quo Ante Order against implementation of the ICC warrant.</p><p>It also made clear that justices have yet to decide on the main issues that Dela Rosa raised in a petition questioning the validity of the warrant.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/21/osg-no-legal-impediment-to-icc-warrant-enforcement-vs-bato-1115">No legal impediment to ICC warrant enforcement vs Bato </a></div><p>&quot;Do not lose heart,&quot; Dela Rosa&#x27;s lawyer Israelito Torreon said in a statement, adding he will ask the court to reconsider its ruling.</p><p>The ICC last week unsealed an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, accused along with Duterte and other &quot;co-perpetrators&quot; of the crime against humanity of murder.</p><p>Government agents tried to arrest Dela Rosa on the same day, but the Senate leadership foiled the attempt and gave him sanctuary at the building following a dramatic chase up the stairs.</p><p>Dela Rosa later left the Senate for an unknown location following a shooting incident between government agents and senate security personnel on Wednesday that sent senators scurrying for cover in their offices.</p><div><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/cctv-shows-dela-rosa-padilla-leaving-senate-after-may-13-gunfire-1353">CCTV shows Dela Rosa, Padilla leaving Senate after May 13 gunfire </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/padilla-mum-on-dela-rosa-s-senate-exit-1621">Dela Rosa hiding from ‘kidnapper’ — Padilla </a></div><p>Duterte was arrested last year and is awaiting trial by the ICC in The Hague on charges stemming from the drug crackdown.</p><p>The drug war left tens of thousands of people dead, mostly drug users and low-level traffickers from urban slums according to human rights monitors.</p><div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/icc-formalizes-peter-haynes-appointment-as-duterte-s-new-legal-counsel-1758">ICC formalizes Peter Haynes’ appointment as Duterte’s new legal counsel </a><br/><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/icc-prosecution-eyes-20-30-witnesses-to-testify-orally-in-duterte-trial-1445">ICC prosecution eyes 20-30 witnesses to testify orally in Duterte trial; Over 13,000 evidence still pending review </a></div><p>Philippine police say more than 6,000 drug suspects were killed in legitimate police operations during the Duterte presidency in 2016-2022.</p><p>&quot;For now, we can say that the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/arrest-warrant-vs-dela-rosa-valid-palace-says-after-supreme-court-denies-tro-1606">warrant of arrest is valid</a> against Sen. Bato Dela Rosa,&quot; President Ferdinand Marcos&#x27;s spokeswoman Claire Castro told reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/17/ejk-victims-group-calls-on-dela-rosa-to-surrender-to-icc-1929">EJK victims&#x27; group calls on Dela Rosa to surrender to ICC </a></div><div><em><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/Tl2MnnI-LDs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></em><br/></div>

<p>Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation had been “tasked to effect the arrest” of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa.</p>

Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation had been “tasked to effect the arrest” of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa.

DOJ tells PNP, NBI to arrest 'fugitive' Dela Rosa

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DOJ tells PNP, NBI to arrest 'fugitive' Dela Rosa

Adrian Ayalin,

Karen De Guzman,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse,

Published May 21, 2026 12:42 PM PHT

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Updated May 21, 2026 05:06 PM PHT

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