By Tracy Cabrera
ERMITA, Manila — The legal team of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has filed a petition for a writ of amparo before the Supreme Court in a bid to block the enforcement of an arrest warrant reportedly issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to his counsel, lawyer James Patrick “Jimmy” Bondoc.
Bondoc said the petition seeks stronger legal protection for the senator, who is currently under the protective custody of the Philippine Senate. He explained that if granted, the writ of amparo would provide “a higher level of safeguard” amid ongoing legal threats.
The development follows an earlier attempt by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel to serve an ICC-related warrant, which was allegedly linked to Dela Rosa’s role during the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
ICC prosecutors have identified Dela Rosa as a co-perpetrator of former president Rodrigo Duterte in a case involving alleged crimes against humanity tied to the drug war, where thousands of deaths were reported.
Duterte is currently detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands while awaiting trial.
Dela Rosa, who had reportedly been out of public view since November 2025, resurfaced at the Senate earlier this week during a crucial vote that led to the ouster of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, replacing him with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
The move is seen as politically significant, coming ahead of the anticipated impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Meanwhile, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV confirmed his presence during the NBI operation, claiming he had access to an ICC arrest order for Dela Rosa. However, the authenticity of the document has not been independently verified.
Trillanes said he was present in response to Dela Rosa’s previous public challenge, where the senator had dared authorities to arrest him, a statement that has since resurfaced amid the controversy.
ia/xf
