THE LEGAL counsel for Senator Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥 M. Dela Rosa said they have had no recent communication with the lawmaker, whose month-long absence from the Senate coincides with reports of an alleged International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Israelito P. Torreon, a Davao-based lawyer speaking on behalf of the senator鈥檚 legal interests, gave a brief 鈥淣o鈥 when asked whether Mr. Dela Rosa had been in contact with him recently.
The admission comes amid reports the senator has not attended plenary sessions or committee hearings since Nov. 11, when word came out that the ICC had allegedly issued an arrest warrant against him.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Friday that it has tapped local authorities to monitor the senator鈥檚 movements, saying it is 鈥渢rying to be steps ahead鈥 in anticipation of a possible warrant.
However, Mr. Torreon said any potential enforcement of an ICC warrant is 鈥渓egally premature and constitutionally infirm.鈥
鈥淎ny action premised on a supposed ICC arrest warrant remains legally premature and constitutionally infirm,鈥 Mr. Torreon told 大象传媒 via Viber.
鈥淓specially while there is a pending petition before the Supreme Court that squarely raises issues on the legality of cooperation with the ICC following the Philippines鈥 withdrawal from the Rome Statute,鈥 he added.
The Supreme Court last month denied a 鈥淰ery Urgent Motion鈥 to compel the government to produce the alleged warrant for Mr. Dela Rosa, but it continues to deliberate on broader constitutional questions regarding the legality of cooperation itself.
Mr. Torreon also dismissed critics suggestions of a 鈥渧oluntary appearance鈥 to the ICC by the senator as a 鈥減olitical narrative,鈥 asserting there is no legal or moral duty for a sitting senator to submit to a tribunal they claim lacks jurisdiction.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla stated in recent interviews that he received information suggesting a warrant was 鈥渙ut鈥 for Mr. Dela Rosa, citing his former role as the 鈥渃hief implementer鈥 of the national police during the height of the drug war.
As the senator remains absent from Senate sessions, Senate President Vicente 鈥淭ito鈥 C. Sotto III said that citizens dissatisfied with Mr. Dela Rosa鈥檚 absence may file an ethics complaint as the proper parliamentary remedy.
Mr. Dela Rosa has also been absent from bicameral conference committee meetings on the proposed 2026 national budget. 鈥 Erika Mae P. Sinaking
