FORMER Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed on Monday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is in possession of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The warrant, he said, is connected to the crimes against humanity case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials linked to the previous administration’s war on drugs. Trillanes made the bold assertion while showing reporters what he presented as a copy of the said document.
Speaking to the media inside the Senate premises, Trillanes explained that his presence that day was specifically to join NBI operatives who were supposedly there to execute the arrest.
He alleged that the operation was being carried out in response to a personal appeal made by Dela Rosa himself in the past. “Personal request na samahan ko raw pag-aarestuhin siya. Nandito ngayon para arestuhin siya, kaya nandito ako. Nandito ang NBI, aarestuhin siya,” Trillanes stated, suggesting that the senator was ready to face the process.
However, the claim was immediately contradicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which clarified that it has not seen or received any official copy of such a warrant. The development unfolded on a day filled with high drama at the Senate, where Dela Rosa made a surprise appearance just as the session opened. His arrival coincided with intense political maneuvering that eventually led to the ouster of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and the election of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new leader of the Upper House.
Tensions peaked shortly before the leadership vote when an emotional Dela Rosa publicly claimed that he was initially barred from entering the Senate compound. The commotion added to the chaotic atmosphere, raising questions about the security situation and the legal status of the senator. While Trillanes insisted that the arrest was imminent, authorities have yet to officially confirm the existence or validity of the warrant, leaving the situation hanging in the balance amid the major political shakeup.
