MANILA — Senator Ronaldo 'Bato' dela Rosa, the former national police chief who orchestrated Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war, has evaded arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) by barricading himself inside the Philippine Senate. The dramatic turn of events on Monday and Tuesday marks the latest convulsion in the escalating feud between the Duterte and Marcos political clans.
Dela Rosa, 64, emerged from months of hiding on Monday to join Senate allies in a power play that saw them wrest control of the chamber from pro-Marcos lawmakers. The move was widely seen as an effort to shield Vice President Sara Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives on the same day on charges of corruption and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and his cousin. As Dela Rosa arrived at the Senate complex, agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) attempted to serve an ICC arrest warrant. CCTV footage showed the heavyset senator outrunning the officers through a stairwell, stumbling and injuring his fingers in the process.
On Tuesday, Dela Rosa appealed directly to President Marcos Jr., using his nickname 'Bongbong,' to intervene. 'President BBM, I am a Filipino. I am your constituent. I know you don't have a personal grudge against me. I hope you will also protect me as a Filipino,' he told reporters from within the Senate chamber, where he has taken refuge. He said he would remain there until the Supreme Court rules on his petition to be tried by a local court rather than handed over to the ICC.
ICC Warrant and the Drug War Legacy
The ICC arrest warrant for Dela Rosa was issued in November 2024 but kept sealed until Monday evening. It accuses him of 'involvement in a common plan that lasted from approximately 1 November 2011 until 16 March 2019 together with his co-perpetrators to kill alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production), which amounts to crimes against humanity.' The warrant cites at least 32 deaths, though human rights groups estimate the actual toll from Duterte's campaign could exceed 10,000. The ICC has already taken custody of Rodrigo Duterte, who is now in The Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity. Dela Rosa had previously said he was willing to join his former benefactor there, but his actions suggest otherwise.
During a plenary session on Tuesday, Dela Rosa appeared alternately jovial and teary-eyed, joking with colleagues while expressing sadness over his predicament. His demeanor contrasted sharply with his reputation as Duterte's enforcer, a role in which the ICC says police carried out extrajudicial killings under orders from both men.
The Senate, now under the leadership of newly installed President Alan Peter Cayetano, has granted Dela Rosa protective custody. Cayetano declared Monday night that 'Senator Bato will enjoy the protection of the law and the protection of the Senate in accordance with our rules and Philippine laws.' The NBI has confirmed it will not attempt to arrest Dela Rosa for now, effectively stalling the ICC warrant.
Political Feud Deepens
The developments are the latest chapter in a bitter power struggle between the Duterte and Marcos families, the two most powerful political dynasties in the Philippines. In 2022, Sara Duterte ran for vice president on a ticket with Marcos Jr., who succeeded her father as president. The alliance was intended to shield Rodrigo Duterte from prosecution for the drug war killings. But the partnership soured, and the Marcos government ultimately handed the former president over to the ICC in March 2025.
Dela Rosa's lawyers have petitioned the Supreme Court to block any arrest, detention, or rendition to a foreign court. The senator said he would abide by the court's ruling, but for now, he remains inside the Senate, a fugitive from international justice in all but name. The standoff underscores the deep divisions in Philippine politics, where clan loyalties often trump legal obligations.
As the ICC prepares to try Rodrigo Duterte, the fate of his enforcer hangs in the balance. The Philippine Supreme Court's decision on Dela Rosa's petition will determine whether he joins his former boss in The Hague or remains a free man under the protection of his political allies.
