PNP says Senator Dela Rosa will be arrested if he appears at VP Duterte impeachment trial

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday, June 29, said Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa will be arrested if he appears at the Senate for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said the police are duty-bound to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against the senator. “We are mandated to effect the arrest of Senator Bato,” Co said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

He added that officers would immediately carry out the warrant should dela Rosa attend the proceedings. “If he will be appearing therein, our police force will arrest him,” he stressed.

The Department of Justice earlier directed the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to implement the ICC warrant against dela Rosa over his alleged involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa resurfaced on May 11 after being out of public view for six months, when he joined efforts to unseat then-Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and install Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

He later went back into hiding after leaving the Senate in the early hours of May 14. He was reportedly given a ride by Senator Robin Padilla, got off in Makati City, and did not disclose his next destination.

Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled to convene as an impeachment court on July 6 to try Vice President Sara Duterte over allegations that include the misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of public officials, and threatening the life of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Co said the PNP is preparing security measures for the proceedings. “We will be deploying an appropriate number of personnel to ensure the peaceful conduct of the impeachment trial,” Co said.

He added that the PNP has been coordinating with the Senate and other government agencies to prevent disruptions.

According to Co, the police have not monitored any verified threats against the impeachment trial.

He also noted that personnel from the PNP's Police Security and Protection Group are already assigned to the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms as part of their regular deployment.