MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a series of motions filed by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, accusing him of using legal remedies to evade an alleged international arrest warrant and describing him as a “fugitive from justice.”
In its comment, the government argued that dela Rosa’s petitions constitute a “catch-all proceeding” that violates procedural rules and improperly seeks to halt enforcement of any possible International Criminal Court-related actions, including arrest warrants and communications with Interpol.
The state lawyers further claimed that the senator has deliberately placed himself beyond the reach of lawful judicial processes, citing jurisprudence defining a fugitive as someone who avoids appearing before courts when required. They urged the high court to deny all of his pending requests.
Dela Rosa, a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, resurfaced on May 11 to cast a decisive vote in the Senate leadership change. He later claimed he was briefly blocked by personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before being placed under Senate protective custody. He has since gone out of public view, with his whereabouts not confirmed as of posting time.
In his earlier filings, the senator asked the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of any arrest order, block the transmission of ICC-related communications through government and international channels, and compel disclosure of Interpol-related materials. He also sought automatic conversion of his petition into a writ of habeas corpus if he is detained.
The government countered that the materials he is seeking are covered by executive privilege, arguing they involve sensitive diplomatic, security, and international cooperation matters.
The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the motions.