Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa reportedly escaped the Senate premises in the early hours of Thursday, ending a multi-day standoff just hours after a shooting incident disrupted the chamber’s security.
Dela Rosa, who had been under the protective custody of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano since Monday to evade an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, allegedly slipped out of the compound at approximately 2:30 a.m.
Sources indicate that the Senator, previously holed up inside the building to avoid authorities, was seen leaving the compound between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. aboard a vehicle owned by Senator Robin Padilla. This departure follows a chaotic early morning characterized by a shooting incident within the Senate halls that remains under investigation.
Further reports suggest the escape extended beyond the Senate gates. Political analyst Jesus Falcis cited a source claiming that both Dela Rosa and Padilla were sighted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at approximately 4:10 a.m.
The Senator’s sudden departure marks a dramatic turn in his attempt to seek sanctuary within the legislative branch against the ICC’s charges of crimes against humanity.