Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday called on Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to surrender to law enforcement authorities after the executive branch officially ordered his arrest.
The directive came after Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against the former police chief.
The order was issued following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order against the international tribunal’s action.
“Inuulit ko ang aming panawagan kay Senator Dela Rosa: Igalang ang batas, at mag-submit at makipagtulungan sa mga alagad at proseso ng batas,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
I reiterate our call to Senator Dela Rosa: Respect the law, and submit and cooperate with the authorities and the legal process.
Hontiveros emphasized that no one is above the law, stating that “the rule of law should always prevail” and that adherence to judicial processes must be prioritized.
Vida previously classified Dela Rosa as a “fugitive from justice” after the lawmaker fled the Senate building following a shooting incident inside the legislative complex last May 13.
Dela Rosa is facing charges of crimes against humanity for murder at the ICC, stemming from his leadership role in the controversial war on drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The anti-drug campaign resulted in the deaths of thousands of individuals, predominantly from impoverished communities.
Hontiveros has maintained a firm stance against attempts within the Senate to protect Dela Rosa from international prosecution.
She was part of the legislative minority that voted against Senate Resolution 307, a measure aimed at shielding Filipino citizens from extrajudicial rendition and ensuring local legal remedies before any transfer to foreign jurisdictions.