An elderly harmonica player’s case of being jailed for a week was juxtaposed with that of the Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was offered protective custody amid an arrest warrant.
An X (formerly Twitter) user raised awareness of the case of 68-year-old Ireneo Vidal, who was arrested on May 7 along Cebu City‘s Colon Street for allegedly violating the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance.
According to reports, Vidal said he was not begging but only accepting voluntary tokens while playing his harmonica, adding that it was to buy food for his three-year-old grandchild.
He also claimed he was physically assaulted during the arrest.
Vidal was released on recognizance and reunited with his family on May 14, according to Cebu City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr.
Other reports state that the elderly man has already been reprimanded by authorities several times but continues to return to the streets.
Under Cebu City Ordinance No. 1631 of 1996, begging in public places is not allowed.
Alcover has called for amendments to the ordinance, saying that busking, or performing art in public spaces for voluntary donations, is different from mendicancy, which involves soliciting alms without offering any service.
Vidal’s case was compared to how Dela Rosa was treated as he faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.”
“One week na kinulong ang isang matanda dahil lang nagta-trabaho siya para sa kanyang apo. Samantalang si Bato, na may kaso sa ICC, prinotektahan pa sa Senado. Ngayon niyo sabihin na patas ang batas sa Pilipinas,” the X user wrote.
One week na kinulong ang isang matanda dahil lang nagtatrabaho siya para sa kanyang apo.
Samantalang si Bato, na may kaso sa ICC, prinotektahan pa sa Senado.
Ngayon nyo sabihin na patas ang batas sa Pilipinas. pic.twitter.com/2kpRWdbCqx
— mayka 🍉 (@maykamaykaba) May 14, 2026
The post has garnered 22,000 likes and 10,000 reposts from other users.
“Nakakagalit. ‘Pag ordinaryong Pilipino na naghahanapbuhay lang para may pangkain, ambilis niyong ikulong, tapos ‘yung mga p***** ***** kriminal na politiko, pinoprotektahan pa??? T*** ***, Pilipinas, gising,” a Pinoy wrote.
“Pag simpleng mamayan ka lang, ikululong agad at maltratuhin. Pero ‘pag malaking tao ka, may kapit, kahit may kaso pa ‘yan, kriminal, p-protektahan! Gagawa ng drama para makatakas. Pilipinas, ang hirap mong ipaglaban kung ang IBANG PINOY ay bobo at bulag-bulagan pa din. WAKE TF UP!!” another commented.
“Nakakaawa at nakakagalit. Sa mahihirap, napakabilis ipatupad ng batas; pero kapag nasa kapangyarihan at Senado ang sangkot, biglang nagiging mabagal at mailap ang hustisya. Patunay lang ito na ang sistema ay hindi patas—mahigpit sa dukha, maluwag sa makapangyarihan. Nakakagalit,” a different X user said.
The senator
Dela Rosa recently made headlines for taking refuge in the Senate after participating in a vote that ousted then-Senate President Tito Sotto III and installed then-Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano in the role on May 13.
He was met with an ICC arrest warrant upon his return to the Senate after a six-month absence.
Two days after taking refuge in the Upper Chamber under its protective custody, there were reports that Dela Rosa had escaped amid the shooting incident in the building that placed people’s lives at risk.
Some of his colleagues have filed a resolution urging him to surrender, stating that the Philippine Constitution “does not authorize the Senate to provide sanctuary, immunity from arrest, or so-called protective custody” to its members.
The Department of Justice said that local authorities are allowed to surrender a suspected or arrested person in the Philippines to the appropriate international court or tribunal.
The Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity states that the government may turn over a person wanted by an international court or tribunal through extradition or surrender.
Dela Rosa is tagged as an “indirect co-perpetrator” of the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war, having served as Philippine National Police chief at the height of its implementation.
The former top cop implemented the operation and was widely reported as one of its key architects, during which the country saw extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the police.
Government records said that the drug war left over 6,000 people dead, while human rights groups estimate the figure could be as high as 30,000, with many victims identified as small-time drug dealers and users.
