The camp of Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has firmly denied that he is a "fugitive from justice," countering statements made by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) regarding the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Legal Response Submitted to the Supreme Court
In a 117-page response submitted to the Supreme Court, Dela Rosa's legal team argued that the senator remains in the country, openly acknowledges the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and has not hidden from Philippine authorities. According to the senator's camp, they are challenging the ICC's jurisdiction and the legality of enforcing its orders in the Philippines, including the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa. They emphasized that until the validity of the warrant is resolved, the senator cannot be considered a fugitive.
No Local Warrant Issued
The legal team further stressed that no local or Philippine court-issued warrant exists against the senator, meaning he has no legal obligation to surrender. This argument directly contradicts the OSG's position, which had earlier asked the Supreme Court to dismiss Dela Rosa's petition against the ICC warrant for lack of merit. The OSG had claimed that a person intentionally evading law enforcement qualifies as a fugitive, linking this to Dela Rosa's alleged avoidance of arrest.
However, Dela Rosa's camp countered that he has not fled, has not left the country, and continues to attend public gatherings and legal proceedings. They pointed out that despite leaving the Senate early on May 14 following a shooting incident on May 13, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano stated that the senator did not "flee" since no local arrest warrant had been issued against him.
Ongoing Legal Battle
The senator's camp continues to seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) and other injunctions from the Supreme Court to prevent enforcement of the ICC warrant and any arrest against Dela Rosa. The case highlights the ongoing legal dispute over the ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines and the implications for Philippine officials.
