Bato urges SC anew to block arrest

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the one-week ultimatum issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for him to surrender and the P50-million bounty placed on his head, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has urged the Supreme Court (SC) anew to prevent his arrest.

In a 15-page manifestation filed with the SC yesterday, Dela Rosa, through counsel Israelito Torreon, petitioned the high court to reverse its May 2026 denial of the request for temporary restraining order (TRO) or status quo ante order (SQAO) against the implementation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

Torreon cited supervening events that would warrant the SC’s grant of the request for a TRO, including the October pronouncement of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez  Jr. that the senator is considered armed and dangerous and the placement of the P50-million bounty.

The manifestation also mentioned Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s announcement that the government was abandoning its prior approach of negotiation, as well as Malacañang’s statement that the President had directed law enforcement authorities to act swiftly in capturing Dela Rosa.

“Taken together, these are not stray remarks of individual officials. They constitute an announced executive enforcement program all directed at the arrest of a sitting senator of the Republic for surrender to a foreign tribunal, while the legality of that very act is pending before this Honorable Court,” the manifestation read. 

In its resolution last May, the high tribunal, in a vote of 9-5-1, denied Dela Rosa’s plea for TRO and/or an SQAO, ruling that the senator has “no clear and unmistakable right to be protected.”

Wife pleads for help

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa’s wife pleaded for the “powerful few” to come to his aid amid a closing window for the senator to surrender.

“I just pray that the powerful few, who were also his friends, would come to realize he is not their enemy nor the enemy of this state,” Nancy dela Rosa posted on Facebook.

Nancy appealed to these people not to use her husband for their personal agenda, adding he has not wronged them.

“He needs your help, not your persecution,” she said.

Nancy did not identify the people she was referring to in her post. - Emmanuel Tupas, Helen Flores