Senator Bato dela Rosa Leaves Senate Premises Amid ICC Arrest Warrant Controversy

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa has left the Senate premises, ending his protective custody status. Dela Rosa, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity during the drug war, departed around 2:30 a.m. on May 14, 2026, accompanied by Senator Robin Padilla. This exit followed a chaotic shooting incident inside the Senate on May 13, which Cayetano described as a genuine attack rather than a staged event to facilitate Dela Rosa's escape. Dela Rosa’s wife apologized for the confusion and expressed gratitude for the Senate's support, citing safety concerns for other lawmakers as the reason for his departure. Cayetano reiterated that there is currently no legal basis for immediate arrest as the Senate has not received the official ICC warrant copy from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The NBI had previously attempted but failed to serve the warrant when Dela Rosa returned to the Senate on May 11 after a six-month absence. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the Philippine legislative body and law enforcement agencies regarding international legal obligations and parliamentary privilege.