Bato Dela Rosa Will Only Accept Jail if He Shares Cell With Rodrigo Duterte
BATO DELA ROSA – Former PNP chief turned senator Bato dela Rosa has sparked fresh controversy after speaking about his readiness to be detained by the International Criminal Court.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has openly admitted that he is willing to surrender and even get detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) under one condition—if he would be placed in the same cell as former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa was a key figure in Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, a campaign that has been heavily criticized internationally and is now linked to ongoing legal actions. Duterte is currently detained at The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges of crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the ICC has also confirmed reports of an arrest warrant allegedly issued against Dela Rosa as early as November 2025.
In the latest episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” aired on Sunday, May 17, the senator revisited his earlier statement expressing willingness to join Duterte in ICC custody. He clarified that his stance has changed due to new realities he learned about the detention facility.
“Nagbago ang aking posisyon dahil no’ng nando’n na si President Digong at binisita ng mga taga-Davao ay hindi pala puwedeng makabisita basta-basta do’n kundi ‘yong immediate family lang ang puwedeng makakita sa kaniya,” said Dela Rosa.
He further explained his concern about being detained separately from the former president. “At kung halimbawa ako’y makulong do’n,” he continued, “hindi naman guarantee na isang selda lang kami at puwede akong bumisita sa kaniya. So it defeats my purpose of going there, kung gano’n lang ang mangyayari. Hindi kami magkasama.”
Host Jessica Soho then followed up, pressing him on his earlier willingness to be imprisoned alongside Duterte. “Pero kung makukulong din kayo do’n sa The Hague… eh ‘di at least magkasama ho kayo. Di ho ba ‘yon ang gusto n’yo, sabi n’yo dati?”
“Depende,” Dela Rosa answered. “Kung magkasama kami sa selda. Pero kung hindi, malayo, kahit ni ‘ha’ ni ‘ho’ walang magiging communication between us, it defeats the purpose nga.”
Soho continued to clarify his position, asking, “So willing kayo na magpakulong basta malapit ‘yong selda ninyo kay Digong?”
“Kung sigurado,” the senator said.
“’Yon naman po pala. Willing naman po pala kayong magpakulong, bakit ayaw n’yo pa pong sumama?” she further asked.
However, Dela Rosa reiterated his legal stance, stressing that he has never recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines since the country is no longer a member of the court.
“Our government is no obligation to effect the warrant of arrest issued by ICC dahil hindi na tayo miyembro, e,” he said.
This statement comes despite the ICC’s official confirmation in April that it retains jurisdiction over the crimes against humanity case filed against former President Duterte, keeping the legal controversy surrounding the drug war firmly in the international spotlight.
READ ALSO: Did Sen. Bato dela Rosa Really Visit Andrea Del Rosario?