"Huwag kang lilitaw (Don’t show yourself)."
Senator Robinhood Padilla (Senate PRIB photo)
This was Senator Robinhood Padilla's firm advice to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Saturday, May 9 after reports surfaced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued a warrant of arrest against the latter.
"Kung ang humahanap kay Bato ay Philippine law, ako pa ang magsu-surrender, pero hangga't dayuhan, hindi kaya ng puso ko…Kapag ibinigay ko si Bato, nagtaksil na ako kay Andres Bonifacio (If it were Philippine law looking for Bato, I would personally surrender him myself. But as long as it’s foreigners, my conscience can’t take it… If I hand Bato over, I would be betraying Andres Bonifacio)," he said in an interview on DWIZ.
"Never—wag tayo magsusuko sa dayuhan (we will never surrender to foreigners). Never," he added.
Dela Rosa has yet to make a physical appearance in the Senate since November 2025, amid the alleged issuance of an ICC warrant of arrest against him.
When asked for a message to the senator, Padilla said: "Ako naman ay 'pag pinatawag mo ay dadating. (As for me, if you call for me, I will come).
He disclosed that he recently met Dela Rosa and stated that he's not a wanted person.
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, has asked dela Rosa to formally comment on the ethics complaint that was filed against him.
Earlier, Ejercito said they have asked the senator to consider waiving his salary and allowances. He said there was a possibility that the ethics complaint against him would be dismissed if he does so.