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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros on DOJ's order to arrest Bato dela Rosa: 'Rule of law should prevail'

Hontiveros on DOJ's order to arrest Bato dela Rosa: 'Rule of law should prevail'

Published May 21, 2026 05:01 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Risa Hontiveros further reiterated her call for Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who last week resurfaced in the Senate for a leadership change, to heed the call of the Senate minority bloc for him to surrender to authorities and avail of his legal remedies.

The rule of law should always prevail.

Thus, said Sen. Risa Hontiveros as the Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fully enforce the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, during the public hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Monday, March 9, 2026, slams the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for allegedly delaying an endorsement of the cancellation of the birth certificate of Joseph Sy, a Chinese national identified as Chen Zhong Zhen or Shi Zhenzong by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). (Senate PRIB photo)
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, during the public hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Monday, March 9, 2026, slams the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for allegedly delaying an endorsement of the cancellation of the birth certificate of Joseph Sy, a Chinese national identified as Chen Zhong Zhen or Shi Zhenzong by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). (Senate PRIB photo)

“The rule of law should always prevail. Dapat manaig ang pagrespeto sa batas at prosesong legal (Respect for the law and the legal process must prevail),” Hontiveros said in a statement.

Hontiveros further reiterated her call for Dela Rosa, who last week resurfaced in the Senate for the leadership change, to heed the call of the Senate minority bloc for him to surrender to authorities and avail of his legal remedies.

“Inuulit ko ang aming panawagan kay Senator Dela Rosa: Igalang ang batas, at mag-submit at makipagtulungan sa mga alagad at proseso ng batas. (I reiterate our call to Senator Dela Rosa: Respect the law, and submit to and cooperate with the authorities and the legal process),” the senator said.

“I pray for the peaceful and lawful resolution of this situation which has already affected multiple institutions, and the entire country itself. May justice be served,” she stressed.

Earlier, Hontiveros and four other members of the new Senate Minority bloc, specifically, Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Vicente Sotto III, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, filed Senate Resolution No. 395 asking Dela Rosa to “voluntarily surrender to the proper authorities and seek judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws and rules.”

The said resolution seemingly counters moves to invoke Senate Resolution No. 44 which has been cited as the basis for place Dela Rosa under the Senate’s “protective custody” while he pursues legal remedies.

A former PNP chief, Dela Rosa, who is now on the run, was the enforcer of the brutal drug war that killed thousands of people in the country during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained at the Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity. He is a co-accused in the case.

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Risa Hontiveros Bato dela Rosa Senate ICC arrest warrant Philippines
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