SC En Banc Votes 9-5-1 to Reject Interim Relief Sought by Senator
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Supreme Court of the Philippines En Banc has denied the petition of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or status quo ante order (SQAO) against government agencies in connection with a possible arrest linked to the International Criminal Court.
In a press briefer dated May 20, 2026, the High Court said it acted on G.R. No. 278747 entitled Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa v. Hon. Lucas Bersamin, et al.
According to the Court, the justices voted 9-5-1 to deny Dela Rosa’s prayer for interim relief.
The Supreme Court said Dela Rosa sought a TRO and/or SQAO to prevent several government agencies from arresting him based on any warrant allegedly issued by the ICC, a red notice or diffusion from the Interpol, or any foreign judicial or quasi-judicial instrument without a Philippine judicial warrant.
Among the agencies named in the petition were the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The High Court clarified that its ruling only covered the request for interim relief and that the principal issues raised in the petition remain unresolved.
“The SC only decided on the prayers for interim relief. The main issues raised by the parties in their pleadings and motions are yet to be resolved in the main case,” the Court said in its statement.
The Supreme Court also announced that the full resolution, along with separate concurring and dissenting opinions of the members of the Court, will be uploaded to the judiciary’s website on May 25, 2026.
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