The Senate on Monday formally placed Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa under its protective custody, following an alleged attempt by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to arrest him within the chamber’s premises.
The motion was raised by Senator Rodante Marcoleta during the Monday plenary session, marking Dela Rosa’s first appearance in the Senate since November 2025.
The former top cop had been absent from public view amid reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant for his arrest regarding his role in the Duterte administration’s drug war.
”In the light of recent adoption of the Senate of Senate Resolution No. 44, I move that Senator Bato be placed under the Senate protective custody until he is able to exhaust legal remedies to protect himself and until this institution is able to do just the same,” Marcoleta stated.
The session took a dramatic turn when Dela Rosa alleged that NBI personnel attempted to block his entry into the building.
In response, the Senate leadership immediately placed the complex under lockdown to identify the individuals involved.
The chamber subsequently cited the NBI personnel in contempt and ordered them to be taken into Senate custody. Senate staff confirmed the lockdown was a necessary measure to secure the premises and address the alleged harassment of a sitting member of the chamber.
Dela Rosa is expected to remain within the Senate’s jurisdiction as he pursues legal avenues to contest the ICC proceedings.