Legal counsel for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa escalated their legal battle to the Supreme Court on Thursday, filing an urgent manifestation seeking immediate protection from arrest following a night of violence and gunfire within the Senate premises.
The Law Firm of Torreon & Partners cited “grave supervening events” as the basis for their renewed push for a temporary restraining order (TRO).
The filing highlighted a chaotic scene on Wednesday night involving alleged National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) presence and mysterious drilling activities that culminated in a shootout, forcing the GSIS-Senate complex into a total lockdown.
The firm addressed the public via social media to underscore the gravity of the situation:
“What transpired shows how far some persons are apparently willing to go just to illegally arrest Senator Bato Dela Rosa.”
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed the intensity of the confrontation, noting that the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms discharged 27 rounds, while unidentified armed individuals fired five.
The 117-page petition argues that these actions represent an illegal attempt to bypass the Philippine judicial system to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
This latest filing follows the High Court’s previous refusal to grant an immediate TRO, having instead given the executive branch 72 hours to comment on the Senator’s claims of a “three-layered enforcement strategy” against him.
Dela Rosa’s lawyers remain adamant that any arrest must align with national sovereignty and constitutional due process.
“If there is a lawful process, it should pass through a Philippine court. If there is a valid warrant, it should be issued by a Philippine judge.”