Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has broken his silence through social media posts expressing his faith, coming amid growing reports that the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against him for his involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial drug war.
Senator's Spiritual Response to ICC Developments
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the senator took to Facebook to share moments of spiritual reflection with his followers. In one post, Dela Rosa posed beside a golden statue of the Santo Niño, referring to the religious icon as his patron saint and noting their shared January birthday with the caption: "My patron saint, my kabirthday always in January. Viva Pit Senior Santo Niño!"
In a separate post from the same day, the senator was photographed performing the traditional mano gesture to Father Cianno Ubod of Compostela Parish Church in Cebu. Dela Rosa described this as his "first personal encounter" with the priest, adding that "times like these, we need to seek guidance from our spiritual adviser."
Government Response and Legal Status
The Department of Justice confirmed it has not yet seen or received any copy of an ICC arrest warrant. Officials noted they are considering pending legal petitions before the Supreme Court while evaluating potential responses.
Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan outlined that if a warrant is confirmed, the Philippines would have two primary options: extradition or voluntary surrender. Chan indicated that surrender would be the faster option, emphasizing that the country should comply based on the principle of reciprocity while carefully weighing legal and diplomatic implications.
Absence from Senate and Official Denials
Dela Rosa has been notably absent since the resumption of plenary sessions at the Senate on Tuesday. The senator faces allegations of crimes against humanity for his tenure as Philippine National Police chief and chief implementer of the drug war from 2016 to 2018.
Multiple government agencies have reported no official notification regarding any ICC actions. The Department of the Interior and Local Government stated that no Interpol red notice has been issued against Dela Rosa in connection with a supposed ICC arrest warrant. Similarly, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in The Hague confirmed they have not received any warrant or related documents.
