The Philippine National Police (PNP) has officially revoked the firearms licenses of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, pointing to an active arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office, confirmed the directive during an interview with GMA News, stating that the order originated from the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).
The formal order, signed Tuesday by FEO Chief Brigadier General Jojo Manalad, bases the revocation on Section 4 of Republic Act 10591, also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. The FEO previously justified the recommendation by citing a pending criminal case that carries a prison sentence of more than two years.
As a result of the ruling, Dela Rosa is required to immediately surrender all 117 firearms registered under his name to either the FEO headquarters or the Regional Civil Security Unit 11 for proper legal disposition.
However, the lawmaker’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, fiercely challenged the validity of the PNP’s decision, countering that the specific provision cited by the FEO does not legally justify stripping a citizen of their gun licenses.
Torreon argued that Section 4 merely outlines the prerequisites for acquiring a license, whereas Section 39 explicitly dictates the actual grounds for revocation.
“Section 39 has ten grounds. Pending criminal case before any court? Not one of them. The only criminal-law grounds are: conviction under Section 39(b), and a court order under Section 39(j). Senator Dela Rosa has been convicted of nothing. No Philippine court has issued any order against him,” Torreon said in a statement.
The defense attorney further rejected any claims that the ICC qualifies as a recognized “court of law” under the Philippine legal framework’s Doctrine of Incorporation.
“The ICC was not established by Philippine law. Its orders cannot be reviewed by Philippine courts. Its judges are not appointed under our Constitution. It is not a ‘court of law’ under R.A. 10591,” Torreon asserted.
Torreon noted that Dela Rosa’s situation is entirely distinct from that of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, whose gun licenses were revoked because he faced active charges directly inside local Philippine courts.
He also condemned authorities for seemingly labeling the senator as “armed and dangerous” while simultaneously stripping him of his means of legal self-defense.
“The Supreme Court has said it has not resolved whether the ICC warrant is enforceable in the Philippines. Six constitutional questions remain open,” Torreon added.