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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian urges new Senate leadership to disclose Bato's whereabouts

Gatchalian urges new Senate leadership to disclose Bato's whereabouts

Published May 14, 2026 12:38 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday, May 14 urged the new leadership of the Senate to disclose Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa whereabouts.
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa (Senate of the Philippines photo)
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa (Senate of the Philippines photo)

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday, May 14 urged the new leadership of the Senate to disclose Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa whereabouts. 

Gatchalian made the call after reports surfaced that Dela Rosa, who is subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly slipped out of the Senate after the chaos that ensued inside the premises on Wednesday night. 

Dela Rosa, who one of the co-accused in the crimes against humanity filed against former president Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC, is currently under the Senate’s protective custody.

“Mabigat ang ugong sa mga balita na nakatakas na si Sen. Bato Dela Rosa. Mariing na nanawagan ako sa liderato ng Senado kasama ang Sargent-at-arms na magpaliwanag sa publiko kung totoo o hindi totoo ang lumalabas na balita (There’s a lot of buzz about the news that Sen. Bato Dela Rosa has escaped. I strongly call on the Senate leadership and the Sergeant-at-arms to explain to the public whether the news that is coming out is true or not),” Gatchalian said in a statement.

The senator made the call after sources said that a Senate official confirmed to a senator that Dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate building at around 2 a.m. of Thursday.

Sources also said Dela Rosa left the Senate premises through Sen. Robin Padilla’s car.

Earlier this week, the Senate, under the leadership of newly-elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, placed Dela Rosa under its protective custody, after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents tried to serve an arrest warrant against him issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The warrant is in connection with the ICC’s investigation into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Dela Rosa was then the top police official who implemented the former president’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs.

Gatchalian also debunked claims that senators were given a warning prior to the chaos that ensued that is why they left the building early.

“That’s not true. I left the office almost 7 p.m. already. Office hours is only at 7 p.m. My staff left around 7 p.m. That’s our routine from Monday to Thursday,” he pointed out.

Related Tags

Sherwin Gatchalian Senate leadership change Senate leadership Bato Dela Rosa ICC arrest warrant
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