Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa broke his public silence on January 21, 2026 after several days of absence from Senate sessions, issuing a statement on Facebook as renewed public discussion surrounded developments in the International Criminal Court investigation into killings linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. His nonappearance in recent plenary and committee proceedings had drawn attention as the ICC case again became a focus of political and legal debate.
In the statement, Dela Rosa said he was “alive and well” as he marked his 64th birthday, while reiterating his position that any accountability process should be handled within Philippine institutions. He rejected foreign involvement in the administration of justice and questioned why Filipinos would support cooperation with international bodies. “I remain patient and composed. I remain dignified,” Dela Rosa said, adding that if cases were filed against him, he would face them “as a Filipino, before Filipinos.”
The senator framed the issue as a matter of national sovereignty and restated his long-standing opposition to the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines. His remarks echoed earlier public statements defending his actions as former chief of the Philippine National Police during the height of the anti-drug campaign under the Duterte administration.
The statement did not explain his recent absence from Senate proceedings and did not indicate when he would resume full participation in legislative work. It also made no reference to any specific legal action or formal proceedings against him.
Dela Rosa ended his message by thanking supporters and asking for prayers, as debate continues over the ICC investigation, the Philippine government’s position on cooperation, and the political implications for officials associated with the anti-drug campaign.
