The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday directed government respondents to submit their comments on the urgent motions filed by Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa seeking protection from a possible arrest linked to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) drug war investigation.
In a resolution issued during a special en banc session on May 13, the High Court ordered respondents in G.R. No. 278747, filed by former president Rodrigo Duterte and Dela Rosa, to comment within a non-extendable period of 72 hours from receipt of the resolution.
The Court also directed Dela Rosa to file his reply within 72 hours after receiving the respondents’ comments.
According to the SC press briefer, the resolution is “without prejudice” to the Court taking interim or urgent measures requested by Dela Rosa should the situation require immediate action.
Dela Rosa filed an Urgent Manifestation with Omnibus Motion on May 11, following reports that the ICC had issued a warrant of arrest against him in connection with investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The senator asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO), writ of preliminary injunction, or status quo ante order (SQAO) to prevent his arrest, detention, or transfer without judicial authorization.
He also questioned the validity of a subpoena issued by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) requiring him to appear at Camp Crame over alleged killings during his tenure as Davao City police director.
In a supplemental filing submitted the same day, Dela Rosa alleged that operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) attempted to block his entry into the Senate Session Hall. He also accused former senator Antonio Trillanes IV of presenting what was claimed to be a copy of an ICC arrest warrant against him.
The senator further sought a TRO or SQAO prohibiting the NBI and Trillanes from arresting, detaining, or serving any ICC-related warrant or foreign document on him.
