Cayetano to gov’t, Senate: Assure Bato of Due Process

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday urged the government to assure Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa of his rights and due process amid reports of his impending arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Napaka-importante kasi na may sistema tayo ng hustisya sa bansa at ang korte ang nakakasakop… Ang gobyerno dapat ina-assure si Senator Bato na merong proseso,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the December 2 plenary session.

Cayetano was responding to a question on what the Minority Bloc intends to do regarding the continuing absence of dela Rosa from the Senate since session resumed on November 10, 2025.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had earlier announced that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa in relation to his role as Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief in implementing the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

To date, the ICC has yet to confirm reports it had issued an arrest warrant for the senator.

“Wala akong problema kung sasabihin ng gobyerno na, ‘Kapag hinuli iyan, pwede siyang pumunta ng korte.’ Kami mismo sa Minority, at least ako, hahamunin ko siya. ‘Pumasok ka, responsibility mo iyan’,” the Minority Leader said.

He also called on the Senate leadership to stand up for dela Rosa in ensuring legal protection.

“I’ll make it simple: Kung may lumabas na warrant of arrest against a senator, dapat niyang harapin iyon… But this is a different case. This is a case where the Senate itself – the leadership at kaming lahat sa minority at majority – should stand up for a senator and ask, ‘Is he getting the legal protection that every Filipino should get?’” he said.

Cayetano said this uncertainty is likely the reason dela Rosa has yet to attend the Senate session.

“Hindi siya makatapak dito (sa Senado) kasi walang guarantee na hindi siya aarestuhin at ide-deport sa The Hague na walang say ang Philippine courts. Ang hinihingi lang ni Senator Bato ay katiyakan na kung may warrant of arrest, makakapunta muna siya sa ating courts,” he said.

The senator also dismissed the possibility of an ethics case being filed against dela Rosa in relation to his absences.

“Napaka-illogical na mag-prosper y’ung ethics case. Kung mag-file pwede. Lahat naman ng klase na mag-file, pwede. Ang question, may ground ba? May threat siya against his liberty,” he said.

Earlier this year, former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by Interpol on an ICC warrant for crimes against humanity after returning from Hong Kong. Without intervention from local courts, Duterte was immediately flown to The Hague, Netherlands.

Cayetano cited this precedent in urging the government to assure dela Rosa of a fair legal process.

“Personal kong pananaw ito, hindi pa namin pinag-uusapan sa Minority... Kasi kung sasabihin na any time pwede kang damputin at dalhin sa ibang bansa… When your life and liberty are threatened, you really think of options,” he said.

Cayetano said the question is not why dela Rosa is absent but “why there is no assurance from the government that his rights will be protected.”

As a lawyer, he stressed the need to elevate the stature of local courts more than international ones in resolving such cases.

“Baka sa kanila, ang view nila ay pwedeng dalhin sa The Hague. Abogado ako. Never ko pwedeng maging view na inutil ang Philippine courts. Wala pa akong nakikitang treaty o batas natin na pwedeng damputin ka na lang. Kahit doon sa mga treaties natin na pagka may crime dito or doon, pwede ka munang dumulog sa korte natin,” the senator said.

“That’s my personal opinion that the leadership of the Senate should protect the rights of every single Filipino,” he added. ###