After a six-month absence from the Senate, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa appeared on Monday, May 11, 2026, visibly angry and accusing National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel of attempting to prevent his entry.
Dela Rosa's Allegations
Taking the Senate plenary floor, Dela Rosa claimed he had to physically struggle with NBI agents. “Kung ako ay absent, hinahanap na ako ninyo, sumusweldo hindi nagpapakita, ngayon nagpapakita ako dito, hinarang ako ng mga NBI ni-wrestling ako doon nagka sugat-sugat ako,” he said, showing his injured fingers. He added, “This is the Senate. Wala silang respeto sa institution ng Senado.”
Senate Response
Newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano informed the chamber that the NBI, along with former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, was in the Senate building to “effect an arrest.” However, Cayetano noted that the sergeant-at-arms reported the NBI did not possess an arrest warrant. “So far, there is no information that the NBI informed the Senate which by tradition no law enforcement agency has ever come to the Senate in secret to affect an arrest. Usually, they have an arrest warrant and they coordinate with the Office of the Senate President,” he explained.
In response, the Senate implemented a lockdown, barring anyone from entering or leaving the premises.
Background
Trillanes claimed in an interview that a valid arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) exists against Dela Rosa, who is identified as a co-perpetrator of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte in crimes against humanity during the drug war. Dela Rosa had been absent from Senate sessions and public events since November 2025, following Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest.
