THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, effectively blocking him from leaving the country as he faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed the measure during a press briefing on Friday, stating that alerts have already been transmitted to all border control agencies to monitor Dela Rosa’s movements.
“I’ve issued an ILBO already for him. We’ve sent notices to our border control authority, basically,” Vida said, adding that any attempt by the senator to depart Philippine territory will be met with immediate arrest. Vida emphasized that allowing Dela Rosa to escape abroad would be treated as “a mockery of justice” and a direct challenge to both domestic and international legal processes.
The ICC issued the warrant against Dela Rosa over allegations that he bears criminal responsibility as an indirect co‑perpetrator in crimes against humanity, specifically murder, committed between July 2016 and April 2018 during the previous administration’s anti‑drug campaign.
The charges stem from incidents where at least 32 individuals were killed during that period. The legal process reached a standoff earlier this week when National Bureau of Investigation agents tried to serve the warrant, only for Dela Rosa to seek and receive protective custody inside the Senate premises. The situation turned chaotic, culminating in his sudden and undisclosed departure at 2:30 a.m. Thursday alongside Senator Robin Padilla; his whereabouts remain unknown to the public and the media.
While authorities continue to track Dela Rosa, Vida clarified that there is no official manhunt operation currently underway, though he noted that the department holds information that could lead to his location if necessary. “We have information available to the department to determine where Dela Rosa is,” he revealed, without giving further details. At the same time, Vida firmly validated the legal standing of the case, confirming that the Philippines has formally received the ICC’s request to execute the warrant and that the document carries full validity.
“I do confirm that there is a valid ICC arrest warrant… and the pending request from the ICC to serve the same has been duly received by the Philippines,” he stressed, putting to rest claims from some quarters that the papers were illegitimate or non‑existent.
Vida also addressed the delicate balance between executive functions and legislative independence, acknowledging the Senate’s institutional autonomy while asserting that the rule of law must ultimately prevail.
He explained that the DOJ is aware of petitions filed before the Supreme Court questioning the execution of the warrant, and expressed confidence that once these legal hurdles are resolved, the Senate will comply with its obligation. “There are legal issues now pending before the Supreme Court; we will expect that the appropriate turnover will be made to the DOJ once all the legal issues have been resolved for his arrest,” Vida said.
Until then, the lookout order remains active, and border authorities have strict instructions: should Dela Rosa attempt to flee the country, he must be apprehended and turned over to authorities to face the charges against him.
