Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday reaffirmed that the government must uphold the rule of law and due process amid circulating reports of an alleged International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
The reports stemmed from a claim by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla that the ICC had issued a warrant against Dela Rosa, who is linked to the crimes against humanity case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
Before joining the Senate, Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief under the Duterte administration and was one of the key architects of the anti-drug campaign.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Cayetano said the strength of the nation lies in its faith in God, the law, and the institutions that uphold it.
“The Supreme Court’s Rules on Extradition Proceedings remind us that if we are to restore the people’s trust in government, we must once again be a nation guided by principle and law — through the aid and guidance of the Almighty — and not by the shifting winds of politics or personal prejudice,” he said.
Cayetano emphasized that justice and extradition must always be anchored on law and due process, not on emotion or bias.
“The Court has drawn the line clearly: extradition, and all acts of justice, must be rooted in law and due process, not in bias or emotion. Opinions change, but principles remain. That is how we preserve justice and protect democracy,” he added.
The senator stressed that every Filipino deserves equal treatment under the law, regardless of status or position.
“To our people, especially those following the developments involving Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa — I want to assure you: no one is above the law, and no one is beneath its protection. Every Filipino, whether senator or citizen, deserves equal treatment and the full measure of due process,” Cayetano said.
He also called on the Senate leadership to uphold fairness and integrity in its response.
“Let us show that the Senate stands not for privilege, but for fairness — that we will uphold for our members only what we are willing to uphold for every Filipino: justice without bias, and equality before the law,” he stated.
Cayetano concluded by urging all sectors to ensure that justice is never used for political gain.
“Justice must never be used to settle political scores, but to serve truth. The law must not be a weapon to divide us, but a bridge that unites us in fairness, trust, and faith in the system we all depend on.”
Meanwhile, Malacañang clarified that it has not received any official communication or red notice from the ICC or Interpol regarding the alleged warrant.