Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would be impartial and observe the law when Filipino citizens facing criminal charges, such as Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, seek government assistance, Malaca±ang said Wednesday. In a statement, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that Marcos will always choose to protect the country's interests, ensuring that government actions adhere to Philippine laws.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro's statement came after Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the alleged disrespect for the Senate's independence following the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)'s attempt to enforce the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against Dela Rosa. Duterte also mentioned it is 'embarrassing' that some Filipinos and government agencies lack understanding of national sovereignty, emphasizing that arrest warrants could not be implemented within the Philippine territory unless issued by a Philippine court.
Castro assured Dela Rosa that the government would provide lawful assistance to any citizen seeking legal remedies. She emphasized that the administration is fair, law-abiding, and does not enforce violence. Castro also highlighted that all assistance that can be provided to citizens will not be denied, and regardless of political affiliation, the interest of the people must remain a priority over personal gains.
The ICC, on its official website, identified Dela Rosa as a 'defendant' and a person 'at large' after the international tribunal unsealed the arrest warrant issued against him in connection with the crimes against humanity linked to the Philippines' drug war. Dela Rosa, the country's former police chief under the Duterte administration, was accused of committing the crime against humanity of murder between July 3, 2016, and the end of April 2018. The ICC alleged that Dela Rosa was involved in a 'common plan' to kill alleged criminals in the Philippines, including drug offenders, plotted from November 2011 to March 2019. An arrest warrant was issued secretly on November 6, 2025, and the document was unsealed on May 11.
