Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida announced on Friday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will defer to the Supreme Court regarding the execution of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
When pressed during a media briefing on whether the international warrant should be forwarded to local courts for enforcement, Vida declined to give a definitive response, citing judicial courtesy.
“These are precise issues that the Supreme Court will pass upon, so I would just decline to answer. The government will be presenting its case to the Office of the Solicitor General. We… should respect the authority of the Supreme Court on this matter,” Vida stated.
Despite leaving the procedural decision to the high court, Vida validated the standing of the ICC warrant, which names Dela Rosa as an accomplice in the alleged crimes against humanity linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The justice chief issued a stern warning against any attempt by the lawmaker to flee the jurisdiction, ordering law enforcement to intercept him at the borders.
“The Department of Justice will treat any attempt of Senator Bato Dela Rosa to leave the country as a mockery of justice. And I am giving specific orders to law enforcement agents, to our border control authorities that if Senator Bato Dela Rosa would try to leave the country that the appropriate arrest should be made,” Vida declared.
The DOJ’s stance highlights the growing legal friction between the Philippines’ domestic judicial processes and its international legal obligations, with all eyes now on the Supreme Court’s next move.