18/05/2026
The Office of the Solicitor General opened its Supreme Court filing against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa with words attributed to the former police chief during the Duterte drug war: “If someone fights back, they’ll die. If nobody fights back, we’ll make them fight back. Produce blood. Instill fear.”
The OSG asked the high court to deny Dela Rosa’s motions seeking protection from the possible enforcement of the International Criminal Court warrant against him.
In its filing, government lawyers said the case shows how “the powerful” can corrode the rule of law when a sitting senator tries to decide for himself when a warrant should or should not be enforced.
The OSG also drew a sharp contrast between Dela Rosa’s plea for due process and the fate of drug war victims who, it said, were never given the same chance to question the force used against them.
“What makes this especially painful is the stark contrast with the experience of countless victims of Tokhang,” the filing read.
The government’s lawyers noted that Dela Rosa resurfaced at the Senate after months away from public view to help install Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, was later placed under Senate protective custody, and eventually left the Senate premises.
The OSG argued that the ICC warrant can be enforced by the Philippine government under Republic Act 9851 and does not need a separate warrant from a Philippine court.
It also said Dela Rosa’s actions reflect the “essence” of being a fugitive from justice, or deliberately placing oneself beyond the reach of law enforcement.
