Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa made it clear on Wednesday—he is ready to face whatever comes his way.
Asked about the possibility of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Dela Rosa did not hesitate.
“I am ready,” he said firmly.
The senator’s name appeared in the ICC’s public records as one of those linked to the crimes against humanity charges against Duterte. As the first chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte, Dela Rosa was at the forefront of the drug war that, according to official records, left at least 6,000 people dead. Human rights groups insist the true number could be five times higher.
Now, with Duterte detained in The Hague after his arrest in March on an ICC warrant, the case has taken a deeply personal toll on Dela Rosa.
An Emotional Speech in Senate
During a privilege speech at the Senate plenary, Dela Rosa could not hide his emotions. His voice cracked as he spoke of Duterte’s condition behind bars, lashing out at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague for conducting a so-called “welfare check” on the former president.
“What kind of welfare are they trying to assure, and for whom?” he asked passionately.
“Was it not enough that he was surrendered to a foreign court? And now you visit him in prison without even informing his family? Isn’t that adding insult to injury?”
He continued, almost pleading:
“Can’t you, just for a while, cut the old man some slack? Give Tatay Digong a break.”
Vice President Sara Duterte, echoing her father’s defense, had earlier criticized the embassy’s visit, saying the Duterte family would take care of him without government interference.
DFA Defends Embassy Visit
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) countered the criticism, saying the welfare check was part of standard diplomatic duties. Under international law, the DFA explained, all Filipinos in detention abroad are entitled to the same service.
“This is no different from what the DFA does for other Filipino citizens,” the agency said in a statement.
Still, Duterte allies in the Senate raised concerns. Senator Bong Go questioned whether the move lacked transparency, while Senator Rodante Marcoleta suggested it may have been tied to suspicions about Duterte’s health and mental fitness.
Dela Rosa also voiced frustration, pointing out that senators like him were denied visitation rights while embassy officials were granted access.
“I question the standards of the ICC when it comes to visitation,” he said.
Duterte’s Health at the Center
The controversy deepened when Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, told the ICC that the former president struggles to recall people, events, and even members of his own family.
This prompted the tribunal to postpone Duterte’s hearing, originally set for September 23, as his defense argued he was “not fit to stand trial.”
A Senator’s Stand
For Dela Rosa, however, the fight is both political and deeply personal. From being Duterte’s right-hand man during the bloody war on drugs to now standing by his side as the former president faces trial abroad, the senator has drawn a line in the sand.
He may face his own charges soon—but as he said, with unflinching resolve:
“I am ready.”
