The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered all law enforcement agencies to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed to the media in a press conference that since the Supreme Court denied the request of Dela Rosa to issue a TRO, the ICC warrant is valid and enforceable.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are now tasked to arrest Dela Rosa, who is now considered a fugitive.
In a radio interview, former president of the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) Atty. Rico Domingo said that Dela Rosa’s legal team may still file for a motion for reconsideration. However, it will not impede the serving of the warrant of arrest.
He also added that even before the incident at the Senate on May 13, Dela Rosa can in fact be arrested based on the ruling of the Supreme Court on the Pangilinan versus Cayetano case.
Domingo advised Dela Rosa that as a legislator, he should uphold his duty as a lawmaker and abide by the rule of law, and hiding from law enforcement will not help him in his current situation.
Commenting the actions made by the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) and Senator Robin Padilla on May 13, Domingo said it is a clear violation of Presidential Decree No 1829, oir Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders since the ICC warrant already identified Dela Rosa as a criminal.
Atty. Gilbert Andres, ICC-Listed Counsel and Common Legal Representative of the Victims in the Prosecutor versus Rodrigo Roa Duterte proceedings, said in a separate interview that he hopes that the Executive Department will be able to serve the ICC warrant to Dela Rosa similar to how it was done with former President Duterte.
Andres explained that while the goal is to surrender Dela Rosa to The Hague and face the proceedings as an alleged co-perpetrator in the Duterte ICC case, the senator must be arrested first based on Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity .