MANILA — Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa quietly left the Senate compound before dawn Thursday after a tense overnight lockdown sparked by gunfire and fears that authorities would move to arrest him over an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant tied to the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
Sources from the Senate secretariat confirmed that dela Rosa departed the Senate premises at around 2:30 a.m., hours after heightened security measures and reports of gunfire triggered panic inside the complex.
The former Philippine National Police chief had been under Senate protective custody after agents allegedly attempted earlier this week to serve an ICC arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the government’s controversial war on drugs.
Dela Rosa was last seen Wednesday night with members of his staff after emerging from the office of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano amid mounting tension inside the Senate.
Photos released after the Senate caucus also showed that Dela Rosa, along with Senators Robin Padilla and Rodante Marcoleta, were absent from the gathering following the adjournment of session.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla later assured the public that Dela Rosa was “safe” and accompanied by security personnel during the lockdown.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of Dela Rosa, also posted photos with the senator inside the Senate shortly before 1 a.m.
The lockdown followed reports of gunfire inside the Senate complex late Wednesday night, prompting authorities to secure the premises while tensions escalated over the possible arrest of the embattled senator./PN
