The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, following the Supreme Court's (SC) decision to deny his request for a temporary restraining order. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against the senator.
Supreme Court Ruling
The SC announced a 9-5-1 vote on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, denying Dela Rosa's petition for a temporary restraining order and a status quo ante order. The high court clarified that the ruling pertained solely to requests for interim relief, while the substantive constitutional and legal issues remain pending.
Arrest Warrant Details
The warrant stems from a case involving alleged crimes against humanity linked to the bloody war on drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. NBI Director Melvin Matibag stated, "The order is to arrest Senator Dela Rosa, so we'll do so without delay." He added that the arrest would be conducted professionally and strictly according to rules, emphasizing that the law would be implemented "without fear or favor."
Reactions from Government Agencies
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) welcomed the SC decision, asserting that the denial confirms no legal impediment exists to enforcing the warrant. In a comment filed May 16, the OSG opposed the injunctive relief, arguing that Dela Rosa failed to demonstrate a clear right requiring immediate protection or prove urgent and irreparable injury. The OSG also noted that "one who deliberately places himself beyond the reach of law enforcement by going into hiding should not be entitled to ask for equity."
Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the PNP, stated that the police force recognizes the authority of competent government agencies and will perform its mandate in accordance with due process. "The PNP likewise assures the public that all actions undertaken shall remain impartial, professional, and within the bounds of the law, with full respect for the constitutional rights of all parties concerned," Nartatez said in a statement.
Background of the Case
The arrest directive follows a May 11 attempt by the NBI to serve the warrant and a subsequent May 13 shooting at the Senate. Matibag affirmed the NBI's full cooperation with a DOJ fact-finding panel probing those events. The NBI has provided the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group with sworn statements from deployed personnel, as well as full access to video recordings and radio communications from May 11 to 13.
