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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bato's wife appeals to judiciary: 'Don't bring my husband to The Hague'

Bato's wife appeals to judiciary: 'Don't bring my husband to The Hague'

Published May 25, 2026 01:25 pm

At A Glance

  • Grace Nancy Dela Rosa appealed to the judiciary not to allow Senator Ronald dela Rosa to be brought to The Hague, insisting that Filipinos should be tried in their own country.
  • Mrs. Dela Rosa argued that surrendering Filipinos to the ICC would signal weakness in the Philippine justice system and urged the courts not to "give up another Filipino."
  • She recalled the actions of former president Rodrigo Duterte, saying his administration worked to bring Filipinos home from abroad, even those convicted of crimes.
The wife of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has appealed to the judiciary not to allow her husband to be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, warning against what she described as surrendering another Filipino to foreign jurisdiction.
Members of Akbayan Youth stage a poster-pasting action at Kalayaan Avenue Quezon City on Monday, May 18, 2026, putting up “Wanted: Bato” materials against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid calls for accountability following developments involving the International Criminal Court. (John Louie Abrina)
Members of Akbayan Youth stage a poster-pasting action at Kalayaan Avenue Quezon City on Monday, May 18, 2026, putting up “Wanted: Bato” materials against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid calls for accountability following developments involving the International Criminal Court. (John Louie Abrina)
In a Facebook post on Monday, May 25, Grace Nancy Dela Rosa urged the courts to reject any move that could lead to her husband’s transfer abroad, saying Filipinos should be tried within the country.
“Please do not be an accessory to bringing my husband to the Hague. Every Filipino must be tried in his own country,” she said.
She argued that allowing authorities to voluntarily surrender a Filipino to an international court would signal weakness in the country’s justice system.
“Granting the people in power permission to voluntary surrender another Filipino is an admission that you are weak and incapable of handling this case, thus the need for an international court to intervene,” she wrote.
Dela Rosa also appealed for urgency, saying delays in legal proceedings could work against the senator.
“We do not have the luxury of time to wait for your technical arguments and debates. Every moment you remain undecided is an opportunity for them to close in on Bato,” she said.
The senator’s wife compared the situation to former president Rodrigo Duterte, saying lessons should be learned from what she called the “Duterte case.”
She also defended the Duterte administration’s efforts to assist Filipinos facing legal troubles abroad.
“During PRRD’s time, he went to great lengths to bring every Filipino home, even the convicted ones. During these times, they are going to great lengths to surrender another group of Filipinos,” she added.
Dela Rosa ended her post by urging the judiciary to uphold the country’s sovereignty.
“Please do not give up your responsibility for our countrymen. Please fight for our sovereign rights. Your decision will be remembered in history. Please make it count,” she said.
Senator dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, is facing an arrest warrant from the ICC linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Related Tags

Ronald \'Bato\' Dela Rosa International Criminal Court Supreme Court
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