By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa stated Thursday (13 Mar 2025) that he stayed in the Philippines to prepare a petition for filing before the Supreme Court (SC) rather than join the PDP-Laban campaign in Hong Kong.

Dela Rosa was among the petitioners for the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed before the SC.

“We weren’t together in Hong Kong. I stayed here. They asked me to handle the legal matters. I coordinated with my lawyer and PRRD’s lawyers to draft the petition for certiorari and prohibition,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters.

“We made sure it was in order. We filed it, hoping for a positive outcome from the Supreme Court,” he added.

The senator mentioned receiving intelligence on the possible implementation of arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court against him and former President Rodrigo Duterte the night before his scheduled flight. However, the former president and other candidates had already arrived in Hong Kong by then.

Earlier, Duterte was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) upon his arrival in the country.

The former president in in The Hague, Netherlands, where the main office of the ICC is located.

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MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is reportedly investigating Senator Ronald Dela Rosa and former police chief Oscar Albayalde for their involvement in the Philippines’ controversial war on drugs.

This follows the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing trial for crimes against humanity related to the brutal anti-drug campaign.

According to Kristina Conti, an assistant to ICC counsel, both Dela Rosa and Albayalde have been named in ICC documents as key figures responsible for the thousands of deaths during the 2016-2022 campaign.

The Philippine government has stated that it will cooperate with any future arrest warrants from the ICC via Interpol, although Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that the situation could differ if the individuals voluntarily surrender.

Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief from 2016 to 2018, oversaw the launch of “Oplan Tokhang,” a program that led to extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders.

Meanwhile, Albayalde, who succeeded Dela Rosa in 2018, continued the war on drugs, a.k.a. “Tokhang Reloaded,” amid allegations of corruption and involvement in drug-related anomalies.

Both men face increasing scrutiny, with the possibility of more arrests as the investigation progresses.

Despite the Philippine government’s refusal to cooperate with the ICC after its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, ICC officials remain confident in the evidence and ongoing legal proceedings, suggesting that more individuals could be implicated as the case unfolds.

Official records by the Philippine National Police claim at least 6,000 Filipinos perished in Duterte’s infamous War on Drugs while human rights groups claim the number of deaths under the bloody anti-drug campaign could be within the vicinity of around 30,000.

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By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa plans to refile the death penalty bill for high-level drug traffickers, should he be re-elected in the May 12 mid-term elections.

“Kung sakaling papalarin, ipa-file ko pa rin ulit, kagaya nitong walang kamatayang death penalty for high-level drug traffickers. Hindi kasama dito ‘yung mga small-time na pusher sa kalsada; ito ‘yung mga big-time, ‘yung malakihan,” Dela Rosa said.

“Although it’s controversial, I truly believe, and I’m really convinced, that if this bill passes, it could be the solution to the problems our country is facing today,” he added.

He also mentioned the recent kidnapping of a 14-year-old Chinese student in Taguig City, whose finger was severed by the kidnappers.

Dela Rosa previously served as the Philippine National Police chief under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Since being elected as senator in 2019, Dela Rosa has consistently pushed for the imposition of the death penalty for those involved in importing and manufacturing dangerous drugs and other illegal substances in the Philippines.

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