Bato dela Rosa seeks urgent SC action on bid to block looming arrest

MANILA, Philippines – The lawyers of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa have again knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, seeking to reverse its earlier ruling and grant the lawmaker protection against any attempt to arrest and surrender him to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Atty. Israelito Torreon’s law firm submitted a manifestation dated Oct. 27, seeking an urgent resolution of the motion for reconsideration it filed in June.

READ: SC junks Bato dela Rosa petition for TRO vs ICC arrest

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The same manifestation also asks the high tribunal to issue a temporary restraining order against Dela Rosa’s looming arrest in connection with his crimes against humanity case before the ICC.

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The senator is facing murder charges for allegedly being responsible for drug war killings when he was the national police chief under the Duterte administration.

The latest manifestation from Dela Rosa’s camp was prompted by the P50-million bounty placed on the senator, who, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, is being guarded by an armed group somewhere in Mindanao.

Remulla also reiterated that Dela Rosa remains “armed and dangerous” and that his arrest could lead to about 10,000 deaths.

Dela Rosa’s lawyers, led by Torreon, said that these latest developments are an “invasion” of the senator’s rights that “now extends to his right to life.”

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“No court has found Petitioner Dela Rosa to be armed and dangerous. In law enforcement practice, the designation signals to operating units that armed resistance should be anticipated, which is precisely the setting in which lethal force is most likely to be used,” they told the Supreme Court.

“Coupled with a bounty and a declaration abandoning restraint, the designation places Petitioner Dela Rosa’s right to life under Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution in present and serious danger,” they added.

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In May, Dela Rosa failed to secure a last-minute reprieve from the high court. In the ruling, the Supreme Court clarified that it ruled only on the TRO and other reliefs sought by the senator and not on the main issues of the petition. /jpv