Manila: Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano stated on Wednesday that an alleged plot to prevent Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa from attending a Senate session could potentially lead to ethics and criminal complaints if substantiated. The issue may be referred from the Committee on Rules and Public Order to the Senate Committee on Ethics as investigations continue into claims that efforts were made to bar Dela Rosa from the Senate during the leadership transition that saw Cayetano installed as Senate President.

According to Philippines News Agency, Cayetano emphasized that if evidence shows senators conspired to stop another senator from participating in the session, it constitutes a criminal offense. He also criticized a resolution by several senators urging Dela Rosa to surrender and seek legal remedies concerning a reported International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him. Cayetano stressed that Dela Rosa should be allowed to exhaust all domestic legal options before considering surrender.

Cayetano noted that once all legal remedies are exhausted, surrender is an option typically done voluntarily by senators. He also reiterated that the ICC warrant remains foreign and its validity has not been confirmed by Philippine courts.

In related developments, Senator Pia Cayetano refuted claims that her vehicle was used to transport Dela Rosa into the Senate complex during the leadership change. She addressed the Senate, countering Senator Panfilo Lacson's earlier public assertion. Lacson later apologized, admitting the information was based on what he thought was a reliable source and expressing regret for any errors.

Senate President Cayetano accepted Lacson's apology and mentioned he would not refer his sister's statement to any Senate committee.