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Philippines' Senator Ronald Dela Rosa prepares for an interview at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay, Metro Manila on May 13, 2026.
AFP / Jam Sta Rosa
MANILA, Philippines (3rd update: 7:01 p.m.) — Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa did not get immediate relief from the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 13, after the high court deferred action on his request for a halt order against his possible arrest or transfer under an International Criminal Court warrant.
Instead, the tribunal en banc ordered respondents to file their comment within 72 hours.
In a news release, the Supreme Court said it issued a resolution directing government officials, including respondents from the Department of Justice and other agencies, to answer Dela Rosa's urgent manifestation with omnibus motion and his "extremely urgent" supplemental manifestation.
The respondents were given a non-extendible period of 72 hours from receipt to submit their comment, while Dela Rosa was directed to file his reply within 72 hours after receiving the respondents' answer.
The high court said its resolution was "without prejudice" to the possible issuance of interim or urgent relief should circumstances later warrant it.
Plea vs arrest, transfer
Dela Rosa filed the urgent plea Monday, May 11, amid reports that the ICC had issued a warrant of arrest against him over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign.
His camp asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order, writ of preliminary injunction or status quo ante order to block his arrest, detention or transfer without prior judicial authorization.
The senator's lawyers also sought to prohibit Philippine authorities from cooperating with any effort to surrender him to a foreign tribunal without court clearance.
The ICC warrant accuses Dela Rosa of crimes against humanity over the killings of at least 32 people allegedly committed between July 2016 and April 2018.
Without a halt order from the Supreme Court, authorities could potentially enforce the warrant under Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.
Section 17 of the law allows the Philippine government to surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons to an international tribunal prosecuting such crimes.
Senate refuge
Dela Rosa has remained inside the Senate since Monday after the chamber placed him under protective custody following a failed arrest attempt inside the Senate complex.
The senator resurfaced after months out of public view to participate in the Senate leadership coup that installed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president.
The ICC publicly confirmed the existence of the warrant against Dela Rosa later that evening after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented reporters with what he claimed was a copy of the arrest order. — reports from Ian Laqui
