Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief known for enforcing President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug crackdown, has evaded arrest after the Supreme Court denied his request for a temporary restraining order. Duterte is already awaiting ICC trial for human rights violations tied to his drug war campaign. The ruling paves the way for Dela Rosa's potential arrest, though other legal issues remain unresolved.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has evaded government agents trying to arrest him and is currently at an unknown location. Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa reacts as he talks to the media before the start of a plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay, Metro Manila on May 12, 2026.
Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. The interim ruling clears the way for the potential arrest of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who was the chief enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown.
"The Supreme Court, in a vote of 9-5-1, denied the prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or status quo ante order filed by Senator Ronald"Bato" M Dela Rosa," a court statement said. Dela Rosa later left the senate for an unknown location following a shooting incident between government agents and senate security personnel that sent senators scurrying for cover in their offices.
Duterte was arrested last year and is awaiting trial by the ICC in The Hague on charges stemming from the drug crackdown.
"For now, we can say that the warrant of arrest is valid against Senator Bato Dela Rosa," President Ferdinand Marcos's spokeswoman Claire Castro told reporters. Castro said Manila will let Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida interpret and evaluate the Supreme Court ruling. The other unresolved issues are seen as relatively minor, including preventing government agents from arresting any sitting senator without a valid Philippine court order.
The top court said Wednesday's interim ruling only decided on Dela Rosa's prayers for interim relief, and the 15-member tribunal are yet to decide on the other issues raised by the senator. Dela Rosa served as national police chief from 2016 to 2018 during the early phase of Duterte's anti-drug campaign and was elected to two successive six-year terms in the Senate in 2019 after retiring from the force. Sign up for our newsletters
Please follow us on Google to support usPhilippines Senator Ronald Dela Rosa Supreme Court Arrest Warrant Duterte Drug War
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Malaysian Police Arrest 15 Men Allegedly Involved in Dangerous Stunts in Bukit BintangA video circulating on Threads shows a group of people in a moving pickup truck igniting flares while the vehicle is in motion, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. The suspects are aged between 17 and 30, with authorities examining a banner displaying the number '6.6'.
Read more »
59-year-old Chinese national arrested after alleged theft on board flight from Korea to SingaporeA 59-year-old Chinese national has been charged in court for allegedly stealing two bank cards from a victim's wallet on board a flight from Korea to Singapore.
Read more »
Stallholder defends fee for extra Lucky Plaza food court bowlA hawker in Lucky Plaza charged S$0.20 for an extra small bowl, sparking complaints from two sisters. The stallholder justified the charge, saying it helps defray costs and prevents abuse from customers.
Read more »
Hong Kong court hears final arguments in trial of Tiananmen vigil organisers, hopes for July verdictHONG KONG — A Hong Kong court on Tuesday (May 19) concluded final arguments in a national security trial for two former organisers of the city's vigils remembering the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Read more »
Philippine Supreme Court rejects bid to block arrest of senator wanted by ICCMANILA — The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 20) rejected a bid by Senator Ronald dela Rosa for a temporary restraining order to prevent his arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Read more »