Senator Dela Rosa renews plea for TRO to block ICC arrest warrant

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has asked the Supreme Court (SC) anew for protection against an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a manifestation filed on Tuesday, October 27, through his lawyer Esraelito P. Torreon, Dela Rosa pleaded with the high court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against his arrest and to reconsider its May 20, 2026 resolution denying his earlier request for interim relief.

The senator cited several developments since the SC's previous ruling, including Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.'s describing him as armed and dangerous, as well as the government's P50-million bounty for his arrest.

Dela Rosa also pointed to Local Government Secretary Gilbert Remulla's announcement that authorities were abandoning negotiations and giving him one week to surrender.

The manifestation further cited a statement by Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro that President Marcos had instructed law enforcement agencies to move swiftly to arrest the senator.

“Taken together, these are not stray remarks of individual officials. They constitute an announced executive enforcement program: an official ‘armed and dangerous’ designation, a ₱50-million capture bounty from public funds, a dedicated task force, Special Action Force deployment, and express Presidential support, all directed at the arrest of a sitting Senator of the Republic for surrender to a foreign tribunal, while the legality of that very act is pending before this Honorable Supreme Court,” the manifestation stated.

The senator's latest plea seeks to revisit the SC's May 20 decision, when the court rejected his request for a TRO and/or status quo ante order (SQAO) by a 9-5-1 vote.

In a press briefer issued on the same date, the SC's spokesperson said Dela Rosa had asked the court to prevent several government agencies from arresting him based on an ICC warrant, an International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice or diffusion, or any foreign judicial or quasi-judicial instrument without a Philippine judicial warrant.

The agencies named in his earlier plea were the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, PNP, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“The SC only decided on the prayers for interim relief. The main issues raised by the parties in their pleadings and motions are yet to be resolved in the main case.”

Dela Rosa's latest filing comes after months of remaining out of public view following reports in November 2025 that an ICC arrest order against him was being pursued.

He resurfaced at the Senate on May 11 to attend a session and vote to remove Sen. Vicente Sotto III as Senate president. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was subsequently elected to the chamber's top post.

The NBI attempted to serve the ICC arrest warrant to Dela Rosa at the Senate that day, but withdrew after the chamber placed him under its protective custody.

Dela Rosa left the Senate building in the early hours of May 14 following a chaotic incident at the premises. His whereabouts have remained unknown since then.