The Senate has an institutional obligation to confront any reported arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against sitting senators, according to Risa Hontiveros.
In a report by DZRH's Raymund Dadpaas, Hontiveros said the reported move by the ICC Office of the Special Prosecutor to recommend the inclusion of Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Christopher "Bong" Go as alleged co-conspirators in the case linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs is only an initial step in the legal process.
She noted that should arrest warrants eventually be issued, Senate leadership would be expected to act accordingly. However, she said it remains unclear whether such warrants would need to pass through local courts, citing differences between domestic judicial procedures and those of international tribunals, like the ICC.
Hontiveros also aligned with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s long-standing position that no senator may be arrested while the Senate is in session, in accordance with constitutional safeguards.
Reports indicate that Dela Rosa has been in hiding since November 11, 2025, following news of a possible ICC warrant. Go, for his part, has denied involvement in the anti-drug campaign’s police operations, maintaining that his role during the Duterte administration was limited to administrative and clerical functions.
Past precedents show that lawmakers facing legal challenges, including former Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV and ML Partylist Representative Leila de Lima, sought refuge within the Senate premises while pursuing legal remedies. Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson also went into hiding during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The issue adds another layer of political and legal complexity as the ICC continues its probe into alleged human rights violations connected to the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
