TWENTY-four years ago, when I was 30, I had the chance to watch the movie Catch Me If You Can.
The lead actor was Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, who portrayed the character of Frank Abagnale Jr.
Directed by world-renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the movie is a biographical crime comedy-drama based on the real-life story of Abagnale, a man billed as a genius con artist.
Now, at 54, that movie suddenly flashed back into my memory as I closely monitor the case of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa since Monday, May 11.
But Bato is no genius like Abagnale.
In fact, inside the Senate, he has often been branded as among the most “dim-witted” senators the country has ever had.
Yet the way he has maneuvered amid the Senate brouhaha triggered by the issuance of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, makes it seem as though Bato is playing the role of DiCaprio’s Abagnale in Catch Me If You Can.
So far, he remains uncaught.
And the more uproarious twist?
He is missing again.
Oh, my God!
‘FUNNIEST SHIT’
Yes, Bato’s case has turned the entire Philippines into what many now call the “funniest shit.”
Many brilliant — and even self-proclaimed brilliant — Filipinos, from lawyers and politicians to dignitaries and progressive-minded individuals, have been throwing out comments mainly to catch public attention.
Others mock and ridicule Bato.
But the masses are not impressed at all.
Because the bottom-line question remains: Where is Bato now?
The “Missing Bato” episode simply mirrors the government’s failure to catch former president Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “tokhang architect.”
So perhaps, out of frustration in trying to corner Bato, the government is now resorting to tactics meant to divert public attention.
One apparent tactic is the attempt to destroy Bato’s image and reputation through social media.
But alas, the supposed game plans have become increasingly humorous at every turn — as if “the shit has hit the fan” — leaving ordinary Filipinos laughing out loud.
The gunfire incident inside the Senate on Wednesday night, May 13, while undeniably serious and frightening, eventually turned into yet another embarrassing “ganap” inside the country’s Upper House.
What made it even more unbelievable was that the suspect allegedly responsible for firing the gunshots turned out to be merely a driver or contractual worker of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Oh, really?
Quite amusing, indeed.
SNAFU’D
Let us dissect the “physiology” of Bato’s case — how it evolved from a normal political situation into a full-blown snafu.
After the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by then-PNP chief Nicolas Torre III last year, Bato’s name immediately surfaced as the next possible suspect to face arrest for crimes against humanity before the ICC.
Thus, since November 2025, Bato had practically gone missing from public view.
He resurfaced only on May 11 at the Senate, supposedly to participate in a political “coup d’état” that eventually stripped Senator Tito Sotto III of Senate leadership power.
As a result, the Alan Peter Cayetano-led bloc emerged victorious.
Cayetano eventually assumed the Senate presidency.
But just minutes after the successful power shift, another Senate drama unfolded — this time centered on the possible arrest of Bato.
Former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV then entered the scene carrying what he claimed was a copy of the ICC arrest warrant against Bato.
Acting like a brusque politician eager for both public and media attention, Trillanes — a longtime Duterte critic — challenged Bato to surrender and face arrest.
However, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla appeared insulted by Trillanes’ actions.
Remulla then declared: “Bato will not be arrested. There is no warrant of arrest yet from Interpol.”
Oh, what a mess!
ICC WANTED LIST
On Tuesday, May 12, the ICC posted on its website that Bato had already been included in its wanted list.
It also confirmed the arrest warrant issued against the sitting Philippine senator.
Bato’s camp immediately ran to the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO).
His legal team cited Republic Act No. 9851.
Also known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, RA 9851 became a landmark statute in the country in 2009.
The law explicitly defines and penalizes the gravest crimes of international concern within Philippine jurisdiction.
But amid the Bato fiasco, numerous interpretations of the controversial law flooded social media, confusing ordinary citizens and netizens not only across the country but around the world as well.
72-HOUR RELIEF
In an en banc ruling released at 5 p.m. on May 13, the Supreme Court denied Bato’s request for a TRO.
However, the succeeding portion of the ruling directed the government to submit its comment on Bato’s petition within 72 hours.
The SC order was brief, but it effectively offered short-term legal relief to the beleaguered senator.
Upon learning of the SC decision, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was also monitoring developments in the Senate at the time, reportedly ordered the NBI and the police “not to touch Bato.”
Exactly.
But soon after came the series of gunshots that echoed within the Senate halls.
Media personnel covering the Senate siege scampered for safety.
Some hid.
Others ran.
A few even cried while doing live reports.
Thank God no one was hurt.
Then came the inevitable finger-pointing.
Who fired the shots?
No one immediately admitted or claimed responsibility for the shameful commotion.
Absurd, indeed.
‘MISSING BATO’
On Thursday, May 14, Malacañang, through spokesperson Claire Castro, declared that Bato was no longer inside the Senate premises.
In short, Bato had once again gone missing — unreachable and untraceable.
Thus emerged the national question of the day: Where is Bato?
That very question has become a source of both humor and laughter.
Until now, no one has volunteered to give an exact answer.
What comes next?
Yes, the quest for a TRO continues.
But many observers predict that the Supreme Court may eventually grant it after receiving and reviewing the government’s comment through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
I spoke with one lawyer-politician who told me such a possibility is far from remote.
As he stressed, the SC could anchor a TRO on jurisdictional or territorial limitations involving an ICC-issued arrest warrant.
‘SENTIMENTAL LAWYERS’
From what I heard, Bato has now become a “mystery man,” prompting his “sentimental lawyers” to shed tears after hearing about the SC’s 72-hour interim legal relief.
Gosh!
Perhaps Bato’s camp learned valuable lessons from Duterte’s arrest on March 11, 2025.
That is why their present mantra appears to be: never allow a repeat of that repugnant episode.
Nonetheless, my own legal understanding as a former law student at Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan also leads me to believe that Bato’s petition contains a crucial legal point — one that cannot yet be divulged — but which may serve as an essential element for the possible issuance of a TRO.
If my “legal kutob” proves correct, then Bato may soon emerge victorious.
Senator Bong Go, who has likewise been alleged as among the co-perpetrators in Duterte’s ICC case, could become the next beneficiary of a possible legal victory against the ICC arrest warrants.
POLITICAL DEBACLE
In sum, the country is now in chaos.
The Senate came under attack.
Bato remains on the run.
But one thing is clear: the administration failed to execute its ultimate plan to arrest Bato at all costs.
Bato remains crucial to the newly formed Senate Majority once the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte begin.
If the present Senate majority holds, Sara’s impeachment remains far from certain — that is a statement.
The current administration, therefore, risks ending up in what many may describe as a “shameful political debacle.”
Should the Supreme Court eventually grant a TRO, then the game could effectively be over.
Next, the impeachment case against Sara — given the present Senate numbers — may simply suffer a natural death.
Thus, if the government still has time, it must use all available legal resources and law enforcement mechanisms to arrest Bato now.
Because once a TRO is issued, all the choreographed efforts to arrest him may simply “go down in flames.”
Sad, right?/PN
