Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday strongly criticized a resolution filed by five senators urging Ronald Dela Rosa to voluntarily surrender in connection with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, calling it premature and politically charged during a tense leadership transition in the Senate.
The resolution, Senate Resolution No. 395, was filed by Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, and Bam Aquino, urging Dela Rosa to submit himself to proper authorities and pursue judicial remedies in accordance with the Constitution.
The move comes amid heightened political tension following the reported issuance and unsealing of an ICC arrest warrant linked to alleged crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
During a press briefing at the Senate, Cayetano rejected the resolution’s framing, arguing that lawmakers must first allow all legal remedies to be exhausted before any surrender can be expected.
“May konting kabastusan yung resolution… senators should be given the ability to exhaust all legal remedies,” Cayetano said, emphasizing that compliance should only follow final legal determination.
He also warned against what he described as escalating political confrontation, saying the issue should not be used to destabilize Senate leadership or distract from urgent national concerns.
“We’re trying to shift to the bigger picture… not only political,” he said, citing inflation, transport costs, and public services as more pressing issues than the dispute over Dela Rosa.
Cayetano added that the Senate majority would meet to discuss the resolution, but said it would not automatically be placed on the chamber’s agenda. He also raised concerns about reported law enforcement activity during Dela Rosa’s Senate appearance, suggesting coordination issues surrounding the attempted service of the warrant.
The five senators behind the resolution maintained that voluntary surrender is consistent with legal tradition and constitutional accountability, stressing that no public official is above the law.
Dela Rosa, for his part, has rejected calls to surrender, insisting that he will only submit to what he considers proper legal processes under Philippine jurisdiction.
The Senate is expected to deliberate further on the resolution as tensions continue over jurisdiction, due process, and the handling of international warrants involving sitting lawmakers.
