Malacañang reminded senators not to go beyond the limits of the law amid moves to shelter Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa inside the Senate following reports of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant tied to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said senators, being lawmakers themselves, are expected to understand the extent and limits of their authority.
“Alam nila kung ano ang limitasyon nila, ano lang yung kanilang authority, ano lang yung power nila but they should not go beyond the law,” Castro said.
The Palace official said she did not want to preempt senators on how they would handle the situation but stressed that public officials are expected to act within their constitutional and legal mandate.
Castro also shared her personal legal opinion on the matter, saying Republic Act 9851 — the Philippine law on crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide, and other crimes against humanity — provides only two possible options in cases like dela Rosa’s: surrender or extradition.
She added that Senate protection cannot indefinitely shield the senator from possible legal processes if the alleged offense carries penalties exceeding six years imprisonment.
The remarks came after dela Rosa resurfaced at the Senate following months away from public appearances amid speculation surrounding a possible ICC arrest warrant.
On Monday, National Bureau of Investigation agents attempted to arrest dela Rosa within Senate premises, prompting senators to initially cite the agents in contempt before later turning them back over to NBI custody.
Dela Rosa is currently under Senate protective custody while lawmakers continue debating the legal implications of possible ICC action against him.
The senator has repeatedly denied wrongdoing linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, which remains under investigation by the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity.
