Senate not a 'hideout' for 'criminals,' Bato told amid plan to seek protection from ICC

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa came under fire on Friday for planning to use the Senate as a "hideout" amid a potential arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his role in the bloody drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Dela Rosa, Duterte's former chief of police who spearheaded the notorious anti-drug crackdown that saw thousands of people killed, disclosed plans to seek temporary protection from the Senate once an arrest warrant is issued against him by the international tribunal.

Under Section 11, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, a member of Congress is privileged to be protected from arrest while Congress is in session. In the past, ex-senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV sought refuge in the Senate to delay or avoid arrest.

Two militant lawmakers argued that Dela Rosa’s request must be rejected as it directly undermines the rule of law, warning that allowing the senator to exploit his position would set a dangerous precedent.

"We call on Senate President [Francis] Escudero to reject this blatant attempt to use the Senate as a shield against accountability," said ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, who is running for a Senate seat.

"Senator Dela Rosa's attempt to hide behind parliamentary immunity is a mockery of justice and an insult to the thousands of families who lost loved ones in the bloody drug war that he himself orchestrated as PNP chief."

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, another senatorial candidate, urged Dela Rosa to refrain from using the Senate as a "hideout," stressing that it is not meant to protect "criminals."

"The Senate should not be turned into a hideout for criminals. It is an utter shame if an institution that is supposed to uphold justice is used as a hideout for those who evade accountability," she said.

Brosas also criticized Dela Rosa for backtracking on his previous statements, where he claimed he was prepared for an ICC arrest.

“Just a few days ago, he boldly challenged the ICC with ‘bring it on’ and even said he was ready to join and take care of Duterte in jail. But now that accountability is catching up to him, especially after Duterte’s arrest, he’s suddenly trembling in fear and scrambling for Senate protection,” she stated.

DAILY TRIBUNE has reached out to Dela Rosa’s camp for a counterstatement, but there has been no response as of press time.

No parliamentary immunity during recess

Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel pointed out that Dela Rosa cannot invoke parliamentary immunity since Congress is currently on recess for the election campaign and will only resume session on 2 June.

“Bato Dela Rosa's desperate attempt to hide behind parliamentary immunity exposes the hollowness of the past administration's bravado. The thousands of victims' families deserve justice, not this shameful spectacle of powerful men cowering in fear of accountability," Manuel asserted.

Similarly, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin expressed doubt that Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero would grant Dela Rosa’s request, given that Congress is on break.

“I am not really sure if this can be applied—it’s an ICC warrant of arrest. Because normally, if you have a case and Congress is in session, you can avoid being arrested. But of course, we leave it to the wisdom of the Senate.”

ICC case and Duterte’s arrest

Dela Rosa is also being targeted by the ICC for playing a key role in the summary killings carried out under the Duterte administration. The former police chief oversaw the brutal anti-drug campaign from 2016 to mid-2018.

He was succeeded by Oscar Albayalde, who continued to implement the alleged extrajudicial killings, which led to more than 7,000 deaths based on government data.

However, local and international human rights organizations estimate that the actual death toll far exceeds official figures, possibly exceeding 30,000, with predominantly low-income families and communities affected.

Former president Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport early Tuesday upon his return from Hong Kong after the ICC’s warrant was served through Interpol.

Duterte’s camp has criticized the arrest, claiming that due process was not followed and citing the lack of a physical arrest warrant. His children and allies have petitioned the Supreme Court to order his immediate return to the Philippines.

In a Senate hearing last year, Duterte explicitly named Dela Rosa as part of the Davao Death Squad, a group allegedly formed during his tenure as Davao City mayor and reportedly responsible for numerous executions.