The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, May 12, denied that the presence of Marine troops around the Senate Building in Pasay City was linked to reports of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa over his role in the previous administration's bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the deployment was part of long-standing security operations in key government sites.

“Just to confirm, we really have deployments to different areas, different institutions,” Padilla said.

“Over and above the Senate, we also have deployment in Malacañang Palace and kung napapansin niyo meron din po tayo sa mismong rebulto ni Jose Rizal (at Luneta Park),” she added.

Questions about military deployments surfaced after speculation spread online over a possible ICC move against Dela Rosa.

The senator served as Philippine National Police chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, which saw the deaths of thousands of drug users and pushers, mostly street-level ones and many of which were killed by masked vigilantes.

Dela Rosa has repeatedly said he was prepared to face arrest if ordered by the international tribunal.

For the AFP, Padilla stressed that the Marines stationed near the Senate were performing perimeter security duties and were not deployed because of any political issue.

“Ito po ay standard. Mula pa noong pumasok ako ng serbisyo nand’yan na po sila,” she said.

“But ang role po ng ating Marines dyan ay for perimeter security so hindi po sila pumapasok sa loob ng Senado at Malacañang Palace,” Padilla added. “Case to case basis po kung kailangan po ang tulong nila. Hindi po ito konektado sa naturang insidente ng political nature.”

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) also denied reports that an aircraft was on standby at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for Dela Rosa.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said no directive had been issued to prepare transport for the senator amid comparisons to the transfer of Duterte to The Hague last year.

“The Philippine Air Force has not received any directive,” Basco said.

“Actually nga po ngayon we are on white alert status. Kagaya ng nareiterate ko when I was asked since last night, we are actually normal routine operations and ayun po ang status natin sa Villamor Air Base,” she added.

Asked if there was “anything unusual” in the air base, Basco replied: “Wala po (Nothing).”

The AFP also reacted to the call of Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on their supporters to gather at the Senate and hold a prayer vigil for Dela Rosa.

Despite the call, the AFP said it would stay away from partisan issues.

“For peace and order, it is the primary mandate of the PNP. For the side of the AFP, we continue to remain committed to our constitutional mandate of protecting the Filipino and securing the state,” Padilla said.

“Focused po kami doon sa aming vision and mandate. We do not participate in any partisan and political activities and we respect the function and processes of all our democratic institutions,” she added.