After being absent in the Senate session for months, Sen. Bato dela Rosa resurfaced in the Senate on May 11, 2026, taking part in the leadership change inside the chamber. Photo courtesy of Avito Dalan/PNA.
The Philippine National Police said Monday it would arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa if he appears at the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said police were mandated to implement the arrest warrant against dela Rosa.
Co said during a press briefing at Camp Crame that police forces would arrest the senator if he shows up at the proceedings.
The Department of Justice earlier directed the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant against dela Rosa over his alleged role in the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa briefly resurfaced on May 11 after months away from public view during the move to replace then-Senate President Tito Sotto with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
He later went into hiding again after leaving the Senate in the early hours of May 14, reportedly riding with Sen. Robin Padilla before getting off in Makati City.
Duterte is set to face trial before the Senate impeachment court starting July 6 over allegations involving misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of public officials, and threats against President Marcos.
Co said the PNP would deploy enough personnel to secure the trial and had coordinated with the Senate and other agencies to prevent disruptions, adding that police had not verified any specific threat to the proceedings.