MANILA — Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has sharply curtailed his public activities amid mounting fears for his personal safety following reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against him, his legal counsel said.
Atty. Israelito Torreon said the senator has made a conscious effort to avoid the public eye as uncertainties grow over how Philippine authorities might respond should an ICC warrant be served.
“Ganito po, ngayon kasi yung kanyang personal safety is at stake. Maka-speculate lamang ako kasi hindi ako makasabi for him even if I am his lawyer. He is just making himself unavailable,” Torreon said in an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita.
No Clear Policy on ICC-Related Surrender Procedures
Torreon warned that the country lacks clear legal mechanisms for handling surrender procedures tied to international tribunals — a gap that places Dela Rosa and others potentially facing ICC action in a precarious position.
“Kasi wala pong klaro kung ano po ang polisiya o wala po tayong batas as to how to deal with surrender. Kasi klarong-klaro po yung gobyerno natin is they will up the modality of surrender instead of extradition under Section 17 of Republic Act 9851,” he said, referring to the Philippine law on genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
He contrasted the Philippines with ICC member states such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and Australia, which he said have established surrender protocols that prevent arbitrary enforcement.
“Tayo lamang po ang atat na atat na i-surrender yung ating national, ating citizen doon po sa Hague, Netherlands na walang klarong basehan at walang klarong procedure,” Torreon said.
Concerns Over Due Process
Torreon further criticized what he described as inadequate safeguards in the event authorities attempt to enforce an international warrant without going through domestic courts.
“Kawawa naman po yung taong kidnapin lang, hindi idaan sa ating korte, na meron naman tayong working courts, meron tayong healthy prosecution service po dito,” he said.
The lawyer said his last communication with Dela Rosa was before Nov. 8, and their discussion focused on protest activities rather than ICC developments. He maintains the senator remains in the Philippines.
Possible Supreme Court Intervention
Torreon expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would step in if the ICC indeed issues a formal arrest warrant.
“Kung lalabas talaga yung arrest warrant, there is compelling necessity now. We will present that to the Supreme Court. Meron nang clear and urgent necessity on the Supreme Court to probably act on our TRO,” he said.
“Pero hindi po namin pangungunahan. Ginagalang po namin ang Supreme Court. Kung mangyayari iyon, baka mataas na mataas na ang posibilidad na mapagbigyan po kami ng Supreme Court,” he added.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier claimed that Dela Rosa and several former senior police officials are among those under ICC investigation for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police chief at the height of the drug war./PN
