Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa may appear before the Senate as it convenes as an impeachment court this Monday afternoon at 3:00 PM, according to his lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon. Torreon emphasized that the decision remains with the senator, noting that dela Rosa is not yet under any local arrest warrant.
Lawyer Cites Local Court Validation Needed for ICC Warrant
Atty. Torreon argued that the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant must first be validated by a local court before it can take effect in the Philippines. Since no local court has issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa, he is free to attend the Senate proceedings. Torreon also expressed concern over the senator’s security, recalling a recent incident where dela Rosa nearly tripped while being chased by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents executing the ICC warrant.
Supreme Court Petition Still Pending
The issue regarding the implementation of the ICC warrant against dela Rosa remains pending before the Supreme Court. The senator’s legal team continues to challenge the warrant’s validity in the Philippines, arguing that the country is no longer a member of the ICC. Meanwhile, dela Rosa is expected to participate in the impeachment trial as a senator-judge, despite the ongoing legal battle over his potential arrest.
