MANILA, Philippines– Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III announced that the Senate will not allow the arrest of any sitting senator within its premises amid reports of an alleged International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Sotto emphasized that the Senate is a co-equal branch of government and must remain independent from external interventions, including international bodies. He warned that any attempt to arrest a senator inside the chamber would violate legislative independence.
The alleged ICC warrant reportedly relates to investigations into human rights violations during Dela Rosa’s tenure as chief of the Philippine National Police, particularly linked to the anti-drug campaign under the Duterte administration. Dela Rosa has denied wrongdoing and expressed willingness to cooperate with lawful investigations under Philippine law.
Sotto’s statement underscores the Senate’s intent to protect its institutional autonomy while reaffirming the balance between national sovereignty and international legal processes. The ICC has not officially confirmed the issuance of an arrest warrant.
