Various organizations widely condemned the Senate’s indulgence and defense of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after the International Criminal Court (ICC) publicly issued an arrest warrant against him in the afternoon of May 11.

The ICC confirmed the warrant for dela Rosa’s role in the Duterte regime’s “war on drugs.” ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet stated the court issued the warrant on November 6, 2025. Authorities made the previously “secret” document “public” only this May.

The warrant charges dela Rosa with criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity, particular of murder. It covers killings from July 3, 2016 to April 2018, when he headed the Philippine National Police. The document specifically links him to the killing of at least 32 people tied to the “war on drugs.”

Instead of surrendering dela Rosa to the arresting National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents, his fellow senators granted him “protective custody.” This came after a chase inside the building when Bato suddenly appeared to join the Senate to vote for the change in its leadership. His vote ousted Sen. Tito Sotto as president, who had promised to immediately start Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Alan Peter Cayetano, known Duterte family loyalist, replaced him.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) strongly calls on the Philippine Senate to immediately surrender Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to the proper authorities for him to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and stands trial for his crimes against humanity.

Bayan stated this is no ordinary criminal case against Bato that senators can brush aside behind “institutional courtesies,” contempt threats, and fabricated grounds for “protective custody.”

No public office should shield anyone from accountability, especially an individual whose bloody campaign posed as law enforcement and victimized thousands of poor Filipinos, Bayan said. Bayan called the Senate’s action “obstruction of justice.”

Rise Up for Life and for Rights, group of drug war victims’ relatives, said the Senate’s protection of Bato is unjust especially given the grave crimes charged against him. The group added true justice demands authorities bring dela Rosa to the ICC as soon as possible for his trial.

His arrest will be a painful and emotional moment for victims whose relatives police killed in operations over allegations of “nanlaban” (resisted arrest), the group said.

The post People demand “Bato” arrest appeared first on PRWC | Philippine Revolution Web Central.

From PRWC | Philippine Revolution Web Central via This RSS Feed.