Progressive groups and relatives of victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” staged a protest outside the Senate, urging the immediate arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after authorities failed to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him, May 13.
The demonstration came two days after the ICC confirmed an arrest warrant against dela Rosa and classified him as a “suspect-at-large.”
Groups including Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Anakpawis Party-list, Gabriela, and Kilusang Mayo Uno, among others, gathered outside the Senate, collectively chanting, “Bato, Bato, Bato, arestuhin,” while carrying banners and placards bearing the slogans “Sara, panagutin” and “Bato, arestuhin.”
Families of drug war victims likewise appealed to the Senate not to shield dela Rosa from arrest and surrender him to the ICC.
“Like Duterte, Bato deserves to be jailed and held accountable. He played a major role in carrying out Duterte’s bloody war on drugs,” said Llore Pasco, who lost her two sons during the anti-drug campaign.
Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a Philippine-based network of families and human rights defenders advocating justice for extrajudicial killings, also called on the Senate to cooperate with the ICC process.
“The Senate should respect the Philippine government’s international obligations and allow the arrest and surrender of Bato dela Rosa to the ICC,” Rise Up coordinator Rubylin Litao said in a statement, May 11.
“Do not protect Duterte’s co-perpetrator in the commission of crimes against humanity,” she added.
Issued on November 6, 2025, the 16-page warrant identified dela Rosa as an indirect co-perpetrator of crimes against humanity allegedly committed under the Duterte administration from 2011 to 2019.
The ICC chamber said there were reasonable grounds to believe the former police chief committed murder, in connection with operations carried out by the so-called “Davao Death Squad” and Philippine law enforcement personnel targeting individuals allegedly involved in criminal activities, particularly drug-related offenses.
According to the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), Bato’s arrest should be carried out on the strength of the ICC warrant by the proper Philippine authorities as the warrant is enforceable without the need for a corresponding domestic warrant.
“His arrest will be an anguished, somber moment for victims whose kin in alleged ‘nanlaban’ operations by the police,” the NUPL said.
The group added that although the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the country remains bound by obligations incurred while it was still a State Party to the Rome Statute, including cooperation with ICC proceedings and facilitating arrests ordered by the court.
“The arrest of Bato could be done the same way as Duterte’s: arrest or taking into custody by the Philippine police then surrender or turnover of custody to the ICC,” they noted.
The NUPL cited that Philippine courts cannot entertain questions on the validity of the arrest warrant or jurisdiction of the ICC, as the Rome Statute vests exclusive authority over such matters in the ICC’s judicial chambers.
“Protection by the Senate is inappropriate, not when the crimes imputed to dela Rosa are so grave,” the NUPL further stated.
The senator has recorded the highest number of absences in the Senate during the 20th Congress, missing 31 session days since November 2025.
He returned to the chamber on May 11 amid moves to change the Senate leadership and proceedings related to the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
