Philippine Supreme Court denies Bato dela Rosa's TRO, ICC warrant case remains pending

The Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled on Sunday that it would not grant a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. The court clarified that the denial only concerns the provisional relief request and does not resolve the main petition questioning the legality of enforcing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to the Duterte administration’s drug war. A court spokesperson said, “There is still no decision on the main petition.”

Separately, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General have designated dela Rosa a fugitive from justice, ordering the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest him. The senator fled the Senate building on 14 May to avoid service of the warrant, which could lead to his transfer to The Hague. Legal experts note that the ICC cannot formally declare a fugitive, leaving the domestic courts to decide his status and the broader constitutional issues of sovereignty and cooperation with foreign tribunals.