Senator Erwin Tulfo has declined to join a group of colleagues in urging Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender to authorities following the unsealing of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Tulfo argued that the matter is a legal issue that should be resolved by the Supreme Court (SC) rather than through legislative pressure.
The resolution, filed Tuesday by five minority senators, calls on Dela Rosa to yield to lawful authorities and utilize available legal remedies.
The measure was signed by Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, along with Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Speaking in a radio interview on Thursday, Tulfo maintained that senators are entitled to their own views despite belonging to the same political blocs.
“Opinyon po nila ‘yon… hindi naman po lahat… pare-parehong opinyon.”
Tulfo grounded his refusal in the history of the chamber, pointing to “senior” lawmakers such as Antonio Trillanes IV, Leila de Lima, and the late Juan Ponce Enrile, who sought Senate custody while facing various legal proceedings.
“Kaya hindi po ako lumagda doon kasi may precedent na po.”
While some might interpret his stance as a defense of his colleague, Tulfo clarified that his decision was rooted in fairness and institutional consistency rather than political loyalty, stating he is “not a pro-Bato.”
The legal battle now shifts to the judiciary. While the Supreme Court declined to issue an immediate temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the ICC warrant on Wednesday, it did not dismiss Dela Rosa’s petition.
Instead, a special en banc session directed the Department of Justice, the PNP, the NBI, and the Office of the Executive Secretary to submit their comments on the matter within 72 hours.