MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it could use Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s possible online participation in Senate sessions to help track his whereabouts as authorities continue efforts to serve an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The statement came amid heated Senate debates over a proposal seeking to amend chamber rules to allow senators to attend sessions and cast votes remotely through video conferencing platforms.
The proposal immediately drew criticism from some minority senators, who warned that remote participation could be exploited by lawmakers facing criminal complaints, investigations, or arrest warrants — including dela Rosa, who is facing allegations before the ICC linked to the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
Despite the controversy, the PNP said any virtual appearance by the senator could provide authorities with leads on his location.
“We will try to ascertain his whereabouts or his location using the link or whatever ‘yung gagamitin nila (they will be using) sa pang teleconferencing,” said PNP Public Information Office chief Police Colonel Allen Rae Co.
Dela Rosa has been accused before the ICC as an alleged indirect co-perpetrator in killings tied to the anti-drug campaign during his stint as chief of the Philippine National Police.
Sen. Bong Go was likewise mentioned during Senate deliberations after being identified in the ICC complaint as a co-perpetrator, alongside other lawmakers facing separate complaints and investigations.
Critics of the proposed Senate rule amendments expressed concern that the measure could eventually extend beyond regular sessions and apply to impeachment proceedings and other major cases involving public officials.
The proposal has further intensified political tensions surrounding the ICC investigation and the continuing debate over accountability for the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug operations./PN
