Sen. Robin Padilla Speaks on Sen. Bato dela Rosa amid ICC Arrest Warrant
ROBIN PADILLA – The Senator called for the use of the technology so Sen. Bato dela Rosa can work online amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa has gone into hiding again after voting for the ouster of former Senate President Tito Sotto who was replaced by now Senate Chief Alan Peter Cayetano. The former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief was absent from the Senate sessions for 6 months prior to his recent appearance in the chamber.
Dela Rosa is faced with an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. He was one of the people mentioned in the case against former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The former Chief Executive is currently under the custody of the foreign court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Duterte is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity. He is detained under the custody of the ICC for more than a year now since March 2025.
Following the recent change in the Senate leadership, the Duterte allies in the upper chamber are now in the majority bloc. One of them is Sen. Robin Padilla who is vocal about his loyalty to former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Following the controversial exit of Sen. Bato dela Rosa from the Senate premises shortly after the change in the leadership in the upper chamber, Sen. Robin Padilla admitted that he was the one who was with Dela Rosa when the former PNP Chief exited the chamber.
Padilla earned massive criticisms from countless Filipinos. Recently, he spoke anew on the situation of Dela Rosa who is faced with a pending ICC arrest warrant now.
The Department of Justice or DOJ has declared Sen. Bato dela Rosa as a “fugitive” and has ordered for his arrest. According to the justice department, the ICC arrest warrant against the Senator is valid.
Based on News5, Sen. Robin Padilla is calling for Sen. Bato dela Rosa to be allowed to work online amid a pending ICC arrest warrant against him. According to him, the former PNP Chief turned Senator did not want to be absent from his Senate duties.
“Si Bato ay wanted ng ICC. Hindi niya gusto na hindi siya pumapasok,” Padilla said.
Sen. Robin Padilla also stressed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa is not convicted yet on the accusations against him. Based on the post, he called for the use of the technology so Dela Rosa can fulfill his job as senator.
“Hangga’t walang final conviction, ibig sabihin, hindi pa kriminal ang tao kaya’t dapat gawin niya ang mandato niya… Mas marami ang bumoto sa kanya para manungkulan… Gamitin ang technology para magampanan niya ito,” the Senator said.
Recently, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan compared Sen. Bato dela Rosa with former senator and now Mamayang Liberal Partylist Representative Leila de Lima who was arrested before while she was a senator.