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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Arrest Bato? DOJ has final say after SC ruling-- Remulla

Arrest Bato? DOJ has final say after SC ruling-- Remulla

Published May 20, 2026 07:04 pm

At A Glance

  • DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the decision to arrest Dela Rosa after the Supreme Court ruling is still a legal matter.
Following the Supreme Court’s rejection of his plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO), the ball is now in the hands of the Department of Justice to decide on whether or not law enforcement agencies will go all-out in arresting Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they will respect the decision of DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida on matters pertaining to the implementation of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“SOJ (Secretary of Justice) is lead. It is a legal matter which he has say over,” Remulla told the Manila Bulletin when asked if the Philippine National Police will implement the ICC arrest warrant.
The Supreme Court, voting 9-5-1, denied the petition of Dela Rosa to issue a TRO on the ICC arrest warrant.
But the High Court said it only decided on the petition for TRO and that “"the main issues raised by the parties in their pleadings and motions are yet to be resolved in the main case.”
Calls for arresting Dela Rosa have been mounting after the Senate gunfire incident on May 13 but the DOJ earlier said that it will wait for the decision of the Supreme Court. 
DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez earlier said that while Dela Rosa can roam around pending the decision of the Supreme Court, the arrest will be implemented once he tries to leave the country.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag, on the other hand, said leaving the country is not good for Dela Rosa as there are 122 countries which have committed support to the ICC.
For his part, Remulla said the decision still lies with the DOJ.
“We are operational within the bounds of the law. The ball is in his court (Vida),” said Remulla.

Related Tags

Bato dela Rosa Supreme Court ICC arrest warrant Jonvic Remulla DOJ
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