Senate President Vicente Sotto III maintained no senator may be arrested within the Senate premises, following the circulating rumors that the International Criminal Court (ICC) already issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection to extrajudicial killing in the previous administration’s  anti-illegal drug campaign. 

“I am not privy to the warrant being issued. But as I have said in the past and in consultation with some members of the Senate, to preserve the dignity of the Senate, and as a matter of institutional courtesy, we cannot allow any senator to be arrested in the Senate premises,” Sotto said in a Viber message to reporters.

He, however, noted the chamber cannot intervene if a senator is arrested outside its premises.” 

“Outside the Senate premises, that’s no longer our concern,” Sotto said.

Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he had reliable information confirming the alleged ICC warrant against Dela Rosa

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged government institutions to uphold the rule of law and due process. 

Citing the Supreme Court’s Rules on Extradition Proceedings, Cayetano emphasized that justice must be applied without bias or emotion.

“The Court has drawn the line clearly: Extradition and all acts of justice must be rooted in law and due process,” Cayetano said. 

He added that the law must serve truth and unity, not politics or division, assuring the public that no one is above the law nor beneath its protection.