SC asks government's comment on Bato Dela Rosa’s plea for TRO against ICC warrant
The Supreme Court directed key government officials to comment on Senator Bato Dela Rosa’s plea for a Temporary Restraining Order.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 13, the SC said that government officials, including former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, have 72 hours from receipt of the resolution to submit their comments.
It also asked Dela Rosa to send his reply within 72 hours from receipt of the respondents’ comment.
"The SC held that this is without prejudice to the Court taking any interim or urgent measures as prayed for by Senator Dela Rosa, should it become necessary," it continued.
Dela Rosa earlier this week filed an Urgent Manifestation after rumors about his arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court in relation to the drug war investigations. He asked the court for immediate legal protection to ensure that he cannot be arrested, detained, or handed over to the ICC without a local judge's approval.
In addition, he challenged a subpoena from the Philippine National Police's investigation group. This order required him to appear at Camp Crame to answer questions about alleged involvement in the war against drugs.
Dela Rosa also filed a second document that same day reporting two specific incidents. He claimed that National Bureau of Investigation agents tried to stop him from entering the Senate Session Hall and noted that former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV had publicly displayed what he claimed was the official ICC warrant.
Bato now part of ICC wanted list
Meanwhile, the ICC has added Dela Rosa to its public wanted list as of Wednesday. While the arrest warrant was originally issued under seal on November 6, 2025, the court made the document public this week on Monday.
Reacting to the news, his lawyer Israelito Torreon told reporters in the Senate, "We expected that."
The charges against the Senator center on his previous role as the Chief of the Philippine National Police. He is being cited for his alleged responsibility for crimes against humanity committed during the Duterte administration’s intensive crackdown on illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa was police chief in 2016-2018, during Duterte's first two years in office.
Duterte was arrested in March last year, flown to the Netherlands on the same day, and is detained in the Hague where he awaits trial.
The senator had not been seen publicly since November before emerging on Monday to take part in an unexpected vote that helped Duterte loyalists capture control of the Senate.
The new senate leadership said it would only allow Dela Rosa's arrest if it was ordered by a Philippine court. (with reports from AFP)