Manila: Malaca±ang on Wednesday said the arrest warrant linked to the International Criminal Court against Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa remains valid after the Supreme Court denied the lawmaker's plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO).
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the administration recognizes the validity of the warrant following the high court's ruling. "Sa ngayon ang masasabi po natin, ang warrant of arrest ay valid, laban ito kay Sen. Bato dela Rosa (For now, what we can say is the warrant of arrest against Senator Bato dela Rosa is valid)," Castro said.
The Supreme Court, in a special en banc session, voted 9-5-1 to deny Dela Rosa's request for a TRO and a status quo ante order. The senator sought these orders to prevent government agencies from enforcing any ICC-related warrant, red notice, or diffusion request without a Philippine court-issued warrant.
Castro also highlighted the stance of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which considers Dela Rosa a fugitive. "'Yan din po ang pananaw ng OSG na siya ay kino-consider na fugitive (That is the position of the OSG, that the senator is a fugitive)," she said.
In response to inquiries about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s reaction to CCTV footage showing Dela Rosa leaving the Senate premises in a vehicle owned by Senator Robin Padilla, Castro said the President found the event improper. "Sa paningin po ng Pangulo ay hindi po dapat ito nararapat (The President thinks that is not proper)," she remarked.
The footage, presented by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, originated from the Senate's surveillance system. This comes amid allegations from Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Gen. Mao Aplasca that the footage was manipulated. Castro added that the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, and the Ombudsman are set to evaluate all evidence to uncover the truth about the incident.
Questions have been raised regarding why Dela Rosa was allegedly permitted to leave the Senate despite being under protective custody when National Bureau of Investigation agents attempted to serve the warrant. Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief and chief implementer of former president Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign, faces potential arrest concerning the ICC trial into alleged crimes against humanity linked to the previous administration's war on drugs.
