Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa left the Senate compound early Thursday as the International Criminal Court sought his arrest, with officials saying later that morning that his whereabouts were unknown. The Philippine Star reported that he departed the compound, while UPI described his exit as apparent and said officials were still seeking formal confirmation.
At an 11:09am press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said several sources had told the government that dela Rosa was no longer on Senate premises. She added that officials were still working to confirm the report formally. The supplied evidence did not establish where he went or who accompanied him.
The ICC had unsealed a months-old warrant on Monday. UPI reported that the court accused the 64-year-old former national police chief of the crime against humanity of murder in connection with the alleged killing of at least 32 people during former President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs. The accusation and warrant did not constitute a conviction.
Dela Rosa had returned to a Senate plenary session on Monday after being absent for months. His appearance came before the warrant was announced publicly, although reports had indicated that its release was imminent. He later alleged that National Bureau of Investigation agents tried to prevent him from entering the session hall.
The senator also asked the Supreme Court to stop any arrest, detention or transfer without prior judicial authorisation, according to a court news release cited by UPI. The supplied extract did not include a ruling on that request.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's administration said on Tuesday that sitting senators have a privilege against arrest while Congress is in session and while they are within the legislative premises. Officials also said the privilege does not cover alleged offences punishable by more than six years in prison. The supplied evidence did not resolve how that position would be applied to an ICC warrant in dela Rosa's case.
His departure followed reports of gunshots at the Senate on Wednesday night. Officials said on Thursday that it remained unclear who fired them and that an investigation was continuing. The evidence did not connect the gunfire to dela Rosa, his exit or the ICC warrant, and no such connection should be inferred.
Philippine National Police chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr said agencies were coordinating to establish what happened and that everyone involved should be identified and investigated. Dela Rosa had separately used social media to call on supporters to protest and mobilise, according to UPI.
The Philippine Star's headline characterised the departure as an effort to evade arrest, but its supplied extract only established that dela Rosa left the compound early on May 14. UPI used more cautious language, reporting that he appeared to have left and could not be located. This report therefore treats his purpose as unconfirmed.
The episode deepened a political and legal dispute involving a sitting senator, the Philippine government and an international court. As of the reporting supplied for May 14, officials had not publicly confirmed dela Rosa's location, the inquiry into the Senate gunfire was unfinished and his Supreme Court request remained unresolved.
