The legal counsel of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Sunday refuted claims that the lawmaker is “armed and dangerous,” pushing back against the classification used by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Dela Rosa’s location remains a mystery after he slipped out of the Senate premises on May 14 to evade an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“We respectfully but firmly take exception to the recent statement of NBI Director Matibag characterizing Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa as ‘armed and dangerous,’” defense attorney Israelito Torreon said in an official statement.
Torreon argued that the NBI’s assumption lacks any concrete evidence.
“With all due respect to Director Matibag and the NBI, this characterization is without factual basis and, we submit, does not contribute to an orderly and peaceful resolution of the legal issues at hand,” Torreon stated.
“Senator Dela Rosa is a sitting senator of the Republic of the Philippines who has, at all times, conducted himself peacefully and in a manner consistent with his dignity as a public servant and as a Filipino citizen,” the lawyer added.
Defending the label, NBI Director Melvin Matibag previously explained that designating a fugitive from justice as “armed and dangerous” is merely a standard operational protocol during ongoing manhunts.
Torreon urged the NBI and tracking teams to show moderation, noting that their camp is waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on a motion for reconsideration after it initially denied the lawmaker’s plea for interim relief.
The ICC warrant against Dela Rosa, which stems from his involvement in the controversial anti-drug campaign under the Duterte administration, was issued on November 6, 2025.
The warrant was kept under wraps until it was unsealed on May 11, prompting the Senate to immediately grant Dela Rosa protective custody. However, the lawmaker vanished from the Senate floor in the early morning hours of May 14, shortly after an unexplained shooting incident inside the government compound.