A COMPLAINT has been formally transmitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robin Padilla, and suspended Senate Sergeant‑at‑Arms Mao Aplasca, accusing them of helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade arrest.
The original complaint, filed by civic group Tindig Pilipinas with the Office of the Ombudsman, charges the three with obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829. The group alleges that their respective actions effectively interfered with legal processes and prevented the service of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Dela Rosa.
According to the petitioners, Cayetano is accused of placing Dela Rosa under Senate custody in a move that shielded him from authorities.
Padilla, meanwhile, was alleged to have assisted in Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate premises to avoid being taken into custody. Aplasca, on the other hand, was cited for reportedly blocking agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from entering or carrying out their duty within the Senate building. Tindig Pilipinas emphasized that parliamentary immunity cannot be used as a defense by the senators, arguing that such protection does not extend to acts that obstruct justice or aid in evading lawful arrest.
Tindig Pilipinas co‑convener Sylvia Claudio clarified that a copy of the complaint was sent to the ICC for information purposes only, and not as part of a formal filing before the international body. Kristina Conti, assistant to counsel at the ICC, explained that while the submission does not have a direct legal effect on the case against Dela Rosa, it adds to the growing pressure on the senator to surrender himself to authorities. The documentation of alleged interference also highlights concerns regarding how domestic institutions respond to international legal processes.
Dela Rosa is classified by the ICC as a co‑accused of former President Rodrigo Duterte in cases involving crimes against humanity linked to the government’s bloody war on drugs campaign. The court issued the arrest warrant against him in November 2025, which was only made public on May 11, 2026. Up to now, the senator’s exact whereabouts remain unknown to the public, and he has yet to submit himself to the jurisdiction of either local authorities or the international court.
