Senator Robin Padilla has advised his close ally, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, to remain in hiding as rumors intensify regarding an arrest warrant allegedly issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Padilla’s counsel comes amid speculation that ICC investigators have arrived in the country to execute a warrant against the former Philippine National Police chief.
Dela Rosa has been absent from Senate sessions since November 2025 following reports that he is a “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
“Hangga’t hindi pa natin nakikita ang mismong warrant, ako ay laging nagpapaalala kay… Senator Dela Rosa, na hindi ko siya palilitawin,” Padilla said during a radio interview on Saturday.
The actor-turned-legislator emphasized that his advice is rooted in a refusal to recognize foreign jurisdiction over Filipino citizens.
“Ang lagi kong advice sa kanya, wag kang lilitaw… Never. Huwag tayong magsusuko sa dayuhan,” he added.
Despite the mounting rumors, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that the government has yet to receive any official documentation or warrants from the ICC.
Dela Rosa remains one of the primary figures in the international probe into the thousands of deaths recorded during the previous administration’s “war on drugs.”