SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Monday, March 17, 2025, that he will not allow the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa within the premises of the Senate should the International Criminal Court (ICC) also issue an arrest warrant against him.
In a press conference, Escudero said Dela Rosa may seek refuge in the Senate until he is able to exhaust all legal remedies against the possible arrest warrant to be issued by the ICC.
“Ito’y iba't ibang sitwasyong kinaharap ng Senado kung saan may kaso laban sa kanila at ang naging pasya ng Senado ay ito: Hindi nakabase sa batas pero nakabase sa tinatawag na institutional courtesy, hindi papayagan ng Senado na arestuhin ang sinomang miyembro niya sa loob ng Senado lalo na kung may sesyon,” Dela Rosa said.
(This refers to the different situations the Senate has faced, where there were cases against them, and the Senate's decision was as follows: It is not based on the law, but on what is called institutional courtesy. The Senate will not allow any of its members to be arrested within the Senate, especially during a session.)
“We will try to afford him every opportunity to avail of legal remedies that he is entitled to. Hindi para sa akin na pigilan si Sen. Bato na magtungo dito. Desisyon niya yun. Pero ang hangganan siguro noon ay hanggang makakuha at klaro na kung anong magiging pasya ng korte kaugnay sa kanyang pag avail ng kanyang judicial remedies na karapatan niya,” he added.
(We will try to afford him every opportunity to avail of the legal remedies that he is entitled to. It's not for me to prevent Sen. Bato from coming here. That's his decision. But perhaps the limit is up to the point where he has obtained clarity on what the court's decision will be regarding his availing of his judicial remedies, which is his right.)
"Dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the chief implementer of the previous administration’s drug war, has also been identified as the primary respondent, alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte, in the ongoing investigation by the ICC into the alleged crimes against humanity related to the killings in Davao City and later across the entire Philippines from 2011 to 2019.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from Hong Kong on the basis of the arrest warrant issued by the ICC on March 7.
He was immediately transported to the Netherlands via a chartered plane.
Duterte is currently detained at The Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison.
Duterte and Dela Rosa, through their lawyers, earlier requested the Supreme Court to prevent the implementation of the ICC order, but it was denied. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)