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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ang dami ng nadamay': Bato urged to man up, face charges

'Ang dami ng nadamay': Bato urged to man up, face charges

NBI chief explains why leaving PH is bad for Dela Rosa

Published May 20, 2026 05:19 pm
File photos
File photos
With so many personalities and institutions already dragged into the Senate gunfire incident, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa should start to rethink his position of continuously playing hide-and-seek with law enforcement agencies.
This was the stand of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which was demonized over the incident after it was accused of attempting to lay siege to the Senate to implement the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Dela Rosa.
Fortunately, the investigation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) stated that there was neither indication nor pieces of evidence pointing to claims the Senate was under attack on the night of May 13.
And for NBI director Melvin Matibag, it was a vindication, a redemption for his part as it only established that they were telling the truth since that time when they were accused of attacking the Senate.
“This is a redemption to me because it validated my position since Day 1 that we have nothing to do with it. Through that report, we were able to show to the people that the NBI was transparent and truthful on that incident,” said Matibag.
And following that incident, Matibag said Dela Rosa should be man enough to face the case of crimes against humanity against him—being the person who started it all.
After becoming the 13th vote that ousted Tito Sotto as Senate president, Dela Rosa was found to have taken advantage of the gunfire incident to leave the Senate, which gave him protective custody.
“He was the one who started this all so it would be better, as a former member of a law enforcement agency, to face the case leveled against him,” said Matibag.
In an earlier interview, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said that they decided to wait for the Supreme Court decision on the legal remedy being exhausted by Dela Rosa, it is a different situation if tries to leave the country.
“In that case, no questions asked, we will affect the warrant,” said Martinez in an interview over ANC.
But even if Dela Rosa is able to slip out of the country, Matibag said it will be a difficult hide-and-seek game since there will be more participants in the effort to locate him.
“He should be very careful because there are 122 nations which are committed to the ICC on this matter,” said Matibag.
The ICC confirmed the arrest warrant against dela Rosa. (With Jeffrey Damicog)

Related Tags

Bato dela Rosa NBI Senate gunfire Melvin Matibag ICC arrest warrant crimes against humanity drug war
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