National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag has described fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as “armed and dangerous” amid the standing arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a media forum on Saturday, May 23, 2026, Matibag stated that all wanted criminals are considered armed and dangerous from their perspective.
Matibag's Statements on Dela Rosa's Status
“Yung ‘armed and dangerous’ ang sinasabi namin dito. Lahat naman po ng target o sine-serve-an ng warrant, ang aming point of view, we will always be ready baka armado ang ating subject,” Matibag explained. He emphasized that for every target served with a warrant, they prepare for the possibility that the subject may be armed.
Regarding Dela Rosa specifically, Matibag cited his background as a former law enforcement officer. “There are footage noong umalis si Senator Bato, may mga dalang duffle bag… So there is a suspicion na baka may baril. At the same time, what happened doon sa Senado, it shows the factor na maaaring armado ang tao na ito,” he said.
Matibag added, “Galing siya sa law enforcement so he knows how the law enforcement officers behave kung paano siya ita-track or hahanapin.” This experience, he noted, makes Dela Rosa more unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Civilians Authorized to Arrest
The NBI director also clarified that civilians can effect an arrest on Dela Rosa. “Anyone of us can effect an arrest because he is a fugitive from justice, genocide ang kaso nito,” he stated, referring to the ICC charges of crimes against humanity.
Response to Dela Rosa's Lawyer
Matibag took a swipe at Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, who asked law enforcers to course the arrest warrant through him. “Baka kasi ang iniisip ni attorney is ‘let me be the one’ to serve the warrant. Wala pong ganon. Sigurado po ako under the rules of court,” Matibag said, dismissing the request as baseless.
Background of the Arrest Warrant
The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier authorized the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest Dela Rosa after the Supreme Court denied his petition for a temporary restraining order against the arrest. The warrant stems from a case involving alleged crimes against humanity linked to the bloody drug war during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa rejected the NBI's attempt to arrest him after his surprise return to the Senate on May 11, just in time for a coup that unseated Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who was replaced by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. After three days under protective custody in the Senate premises, Dela Rosa left along with Senator Robin Padilla around 2:30 a.m. on May 14, hours after a shooting incident in the Senate complex.
