6 hours ago
3
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa sang portions of the Philippine Military Academy hymn in what he described as an appeal for "peaceful support" from former colleagues in the security forces amid the threat of arrest by the International Criminal Court.
In multiple media interviews, Dela Rosa invoked his roots while reiterating his opposition to being surrendered to a foreign tribunal.
In a separate ambush interview, the senator clarified that he was not calling for violence.
"Reminder ko sa kanila na sana (Reminder to them that I hope) I am not appealing for a violent support. I am appealing for a peaceful support," Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa also insisted he was willing to face charges, but only before Philippine courts.
"Kung kasuhan niyo ako, kasuhan niyo ako dito sa local court. I'm willing to be hanged dito sa ating bansa. Kasama sa ating bansa lang," he said.
(If you are going to charge me, charge me here in a local court. I am willing to be hanged in our own country, only in our own country.)
Appeal to Marcos. Dela Rosa, who had previously insisted he was unafraid of the ICC, has in recent days repeatedly earlier appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to surrender him to the international tribunal.
He has also sought Supreme Court intervention to block possible government cooperation with the ICC.
ALSO READ: Palace to Bato: Drug war victims are Filipinos, too
ICC pressure mounts
The senator's latest remarks came two days after the ICC publicly confirmed the existence of a warrant against him tied to crimes against humanity allegations linked to the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign.
The warrant had reportedly existed under seal since November 2025.
Dela Rosa had largely disappeared from Senate sessions after rumors of the warrant first surfaced late last year.
He resurfaced only on May 11, when senators aligned with former President Rodrigo Duterte ousted Senate President Vicente Sotto III and installed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate chief.
The dramatic return also caused a chase through the Senate building as National Bureau Investigation agents attempted to arrest Dela Rosa, prompting the chamber to place him under protective custody.
