DOJ Speaks on Arrest Warrant vs. Sen. Bato dela Rosa amid his Supposed Hiding
BATO DELA ROSA – The Department of Justice said the arrest warrant against the Senator is valid and he is now a “fugitive” from justice.
The Senate recently had a change of leadership in time with the public appearance of Sen. Dela Rosa following months of supposed “hiding”. The Senator skipped the sessions in the upper chamber since November 2025.
Dela Rosa’s long absence from the Senate sessions came after Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court has allegedly released an arrest warrant against him. It is supposedly over the ICC investigation on the controversial war on drugs of the Duterte administration.
With 13 votes from the senators, former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto was ousted and replaced with now-SP Alan Peter Cayetano. Sotto believes that his removal from the chief post in the Senate might probably have something to do with the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Sotto has always been vocal that the impeachment trial should start “forthwith”. Then, he claimed that he already sought the guidance of his “justice” friends over the possibility of presiding an impeachment court. He also met with some then-majority senators over the possible trial of the Vice President.
However, even before the House of Representatives impeached Vice Pres. Sara Duterte for the second time around, the Senate had already changed its leadership. Duterte allies in the chamber are now the majority.
On the day that the senators voted to declare the position of the Senate president as vacant, Sen. Bato dela Rosa appeared before the Senate and he was even asked what pushed him to attend the session. He came in running and claimed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) wanted to arrest him.
Amid the political turmoil in the upper chamber, an incident of gunshots being heard from the second floor of the Senate building led to Sen. Bato dela Rosa reportedly leaving the Senate. Currently, there are no information as to where the Senator is. Based on a report on News5, the DOJ declared him as a “fugitive” from justice.
The DOJ ordered the arrest of Sen. Bato dela Rosa as it said that the ICC arrest warrant against him is valid. Based on the report, thousands of police are on alert now to arrest the Senator and the justice department also warned those who will help Dela Rosa hide.
While he’s supposedly “hiding” now, Sen. Bato dela Rosa previously claimed that he is allegedly ready to be jailed with former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte inside his ICC cell.
