Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, fresh off his re-election victory in the 2025 midterm polls, has stirred attention online after posting a photo of himself in Europe, hinting at a possible visit to former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
“Malamig pa rin pala ngayon sa Europe,” Dela Rosa captioned his Facebook post on Saturday, sharing an image of himself bundled up in winter clothing—suggesting he is somewhere in the continent’s colder regions.
Although the senator did not confirm his exact location, his trip comes after publicly expressing intentions to see Duterte, who was recently detained by the ICC over charges linked to the controversial war on drugs during his presidency.
Dela Rosa, a former police chief and close ally of Duterte, has remained vocal in defending the former president, even claiming that ICC investigators had allegedly pressured retired police officials into testifying against them. He has since vowed to lead a Senate investigation into what he describes as coercive tactics that “trample on Philippine sovereignty.”
His visit to Europe, particularly at a time of heightened international scrutiny, is seen as a continued show of loyalty to Duterte. Earlier this month, Dela Rosa dedicated his re-election win—where he ranked third overall with over 20 million votes—to the former president, saying it was a “strong message” of support from the Filipino people.
As of now, there is no official word on whether Dela Rosa has secured access to Duterte or if the ICC will allow such a visit.
