(Photo courtesy of Ronald dela Rosa Facebook)
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday said Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa should first be presented before a Philippine court if arrested under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, allowing him to pursue available legal remedies before any possible transfer to the international tribunal.
In a radio interview, Lacson emphasized that involving local courts would uphold the country’s judicial processes without preventing Dela Rosa from facing allegations of crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
“Kung mahuli man siya, idaan man lang muna siya sa local court (If he is arrested, he should first be brought before a local court),” Lacson said.
He clarified that Philippine courts would not determine Dela Rosa’s guilt or innocence, as the charges against the senator fall under the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Instead, the local judicial process would allow Dela Rosa to question the legality of his arrest and seek appropriate remedies, including bringing his case before the Supreme Court.
“Pwede naman siyang dumulog hanggang sa Korte Suprema na siyang finally mag-de-decide kasi sila naman yung final arbiter eh o mag-i-interpret ng batas eh (He can seek relief up to the Supreme Court, which will make the final decision because it is the final arbiter and interpreter of the law),” he explained.
Lacson cited Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, which provides a legal framework for cooperation with international tribunals.
The law allows Philippine authorities to surrender or extradite individuals accused of international crimes under applicable laws and treaties, although Lacson acknowledged that its provisions do not necessarily require such action.
However, the question of whether an ICC arrest warrant must undergo validation by a Philippine court before enforcement remains legally contested.
In May, the Office of the Solicitor General argued before the Supreme Court that the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa could be implemented without a separate arrest warrant or judicial validation from a local court.
Despite this position, Lacson maintained that Philippine judicial institutions should be respected even when criminal proceedings are being handled by an international tribunal.
The senator reiterated that recognizing Dela Rosa’s right to due process should not be interpreted as an attempt to shield him from prosecution.
His latest statement followed his clarification on Tuesday that allowing his former subordinate in the Philippine National Police to exhaust legal remedies does not mean protecting him from accountability before the ICC.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa on November 6, 2025, which was subsequently unsealed on May 11, 2026.
The warrant concerns his alleged responsibility for killings committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign between July 2016 and April 2018.
Dela Rosa has remained out of public view since making a brief appearance at the Senate on May 11, while authorities continue efforts to locate and arrest him.
On October 23, the Department of the Interior and Local Government announced a Php 50-million reward for information leading to his capture.
Lacson maintained that Dela Rosa should be allowed to exercise his legal rights under Philippine law while ensuring that proceedings related to the ICC warrant are not obstructed.
