By el Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has returned to the Supreme Court, asking it to act on his pending appeal and stop any move to arrest him for possible surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a manifestation dated Oct. 27, the law firm of Atty. Israelito Torreon pressed the high tribunal to urgently resolve the motion for reconsideration it filed in June. The senator’s lawyers also renewed their request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against his possible arrest.
The filing comes after the Supreme Court earlier dismissed Dela Rosa’s plea for interim protection against an ICC-related arrest.
The senator is facing allegations arising from killings associated with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. He was Philippine National Police chief during the period covered by the allegations, which form part of a crimes against humanity case before the ICC.
Dela Rosa’s legal team filed the latest manifestation following reports of a P50-million bounty on the lawmaker.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has said the senator is being guarded by an armed group in an undisclosed location in Mindanao. Remulla also characterized Dela Rosa as “armed and dangerous” and warned that an operation to arrest him could lead to about 10,000 deaths.
The senator’s renewed appeal seeks court intervention as uncertainty continues over the possibility of his arrest in connection with the international case.
