Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa is currently under the protective custody of the Senate following a tense situation involving National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents.
The incident occurred as Dela Rosa was targeted for arrest related to his role in the previous administration's controversial drug war. The Senate's action comes in light of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On Monday, Dela Rosa, who had been absent from the Senate since November, confronted NBI agents attempting to detain him as he entered the chamber for a session.
In response to the attempted arrest, the Senate voted to place him under its protective custody and hold the NBI agents in contempt. This decision followed a review of security footage from the Senate.
Dela Rosa expressed anger towards the Senate's security for not preventing the NBI agents from blocking his entry. He reported sustaining a hand injury during the altercation.
The ICC confirmed the existence of the warrant issued against Dela Rosa on November 6, 2025, which was kept confidential until recently. The warrant was reportedly shared with the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime.
In the Senate session, Dela Rosa accused former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of orchestrating the arrest attempt, claiming that Trillanes was behind the NBI's move.
Trillanes displayed a copy of the ICC warrant to the media, asserting that it substantiated the claims against Dela Rosa's involvement in the drug war.
The Senate's protective custody will remain until Dela Rosa explores all legal options to safeguard himself.
Dela Rosa's legal team filed a request for a temporary restraining order with the Supreme Court to prevent any arrest without a valid Philippine judicial warrant.
The situation is ongoing, with the Senate reaffirming its commitment to ensure Dela Rosa's safety while addressing the legal implications of the ICC's actions.
We won’t let him get out anymore,
Antonio Trillanes IV
In related news, Dela Rosa's return to the Senate coincided with significant political developments, including the election of Alan Cayetano as the new Senate president.
For more details on these political shifts, see our coverage on Cayetano taking over as Senate president amid ongoing leadership challenges.
As this story develops, Dela Rosa's situation continues to be a focal point in discussions surrounding accountability for actions taken during the Duterte administration's drug war.