Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has limited his public engagements in recent days, a move his lawyer attributes to concerns for the lawmaker’s safety as talk circulates about an arrest warrant supposedly issued by the International Criminal Court.
Atty. Israelito Torreon, speaking in an interview on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita, said the senator has opted to stay out of sight while legal uncertainties persist. When asked if the absence signaled that Dela Rosa was in hiding, Torreon said he could not speak for his client’s whereabouts but emphasized the senator’s caution. “Ganito po, ngayon kasi yung kanyang personal safety is at stake… He is just making himself unavailable,” he said.
Torreon pointed out that the Philippines lacks a clear framework on surrender procedures under international criminal processes, even when it was still part of the ICC prior to its withdrawal in 2019. He contrasted this with several ICC member states — including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and Australia — which have domestic laws guiding the surrender of individuals facing international cases.
Without such guidelines, Torreon argued that turning over Filipino citizens to the ICC raises serious legal and constitutional issues. “Tayo lamang po ang atat na atat na i-surrender yung ating national, ating citizen doon po sa Hague, Netherlands na walang klarong basehan at walang klarong procedure,” he said. He added that bypassing local courts would be unjust, noting that the country has a functioning judiciary and prosecution system. “Kawawa naman po yung taong kidnapin lang, hindi idaan sa ating korte,” he said.
The lawyer also mentioned that his last conversation with Dela Rosa took place before November 8 and revolved around protest actions, not the ICC matter. He believes the senator remains in the Philippines.
As the camp awaits official confirmation of any ICC document, Torreon expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will evaluate their request for a temporary restraining order once an actual warrant surfaces. “Kung lalabas talaga yung arrest warrant, there is compelling necessity now… Meron nang clear and urgent necessity on the Supreme Court to probably act on our TRO,” he said, adding that they would respect whatever action the justices decide to take. “Kung mangyayari iyon, baka mataas na mataas na ang posibilidad na mapagbigyan po kami ng Supreme Court,” he said.
Dela Rosa, who led the Philippine National Police during the height of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, is among several high-ranking officials identified as suspects in the ICC’s probe into alleged crimes against humanity linked to the drug war. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the complainants in the ICC case, previously said Dela Rosa and four other former police officials had been tagged in the investigation.
