IN A DESPERATE attempt to arrest fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) bungled a covert operation by ‘drilling’ a backdoor that could have allowed them to enter the Senate building, says Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.
In a video supposedly linked by sources from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), which owns the leased Senate building, Leviste claimed that operatives led by Atty. Jerome Bomediano, Chief of the NBI Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD).
He then presented a video of individuals drilling its way into the Senate premises.
Leviste then claimed that an NBI operative was arrested — and admitted acting on orders of Bemodiano.
“May nahuling taga-NBI… pinangalanan iyung NBI boss niya, si Atty. Jerome Bomediano… siya daw iyung nag-order sa kanila na lusubin ang Senado at dakpin si Senator Bato, anuman ang mangyari, sinuman ang masaktan,” reads his Facebook post.
However, neither the Senate nor the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed the supposed arrest.
SECOND LOCKDOWN
The Senate building was locked down with military personnel seen entering the premises where Sen. Dela Rosa has sought refuge amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court
Moments later, rounds of gunfire were heard but authorities have yet to identify who fired the shots. They said there were no casualties.
Dela Rosa earlier admitted an imminent arrest for which he called on supporters to prevent what he described as an affront to national sovereignty.
The senator, who is accused of killing thousands of Filipinos in the previous administration’s bloody war against drugs, is safe and with security personnel, officials said.
VERY LONG NIGHT
TV footage showed police commandos in fatigue uniforms entering the Senate building in Manila early on Wednesday evening, with anti-riot policemen with shields and helmets surrounding the perimeter.
Protesters outside the Senate demanded Dela Rosa’s detention, calling for him to be sent to stand trial with Duterte, notwithstanding a court petition, seeking to block his extradition.
The government has denied trying to arrest Dela Rosa. According to authorities, an investigation is in progress to identify who fired shots.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who arrived at the scene hours later, said the president had given “strict instructions” to secure the senators — “We’re not here to arrest Dela Rosa… In fact, we are here to protect him. Let that be clear. I made that clear to his family.”
NEEDS MORE TIME
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday deferred Dela Rosa’s urgent motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent his arrest, detention, and transfer in connection with the arrest warrant issued by the ICC.
In its special session, the SC en banc has instead given respondents a non-extendible period of 72 hours to comment on Dela Rosa’s “urgent manifestation with omnibus motion and extremely urgent supplemental manifestation with motion” seeking to stop his arrest.
The court also directed Dela Rosa to file his reply within a non-extendible period of 72 hours from receipt of the respondents’ comment.
The SC said the resolution shall be deemed served on the parties and their counsels and shall be released upon its upload to eCourt PH and publication on the SC website.
WARRANT IS REAL
On May 11, the ICC confirmed the veracity of the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, in connection with its investigations into the bloody war against drugs during the incumbency of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Dela Rosa, who served as the country’s top cop under the Duterte administration, sought a TRO, a writ of preliminary injunction, or a status quo ante order (SQAO) to prevent his arrest, detention, or transfer without prior judicial authorization.
On the same day, Dela Rosa filed the supplemental manifestation accusing the NBI operatives for preventing his entry into the Senate Session Hall and that former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented what he claimed to be a copy of an ICC arrest warrant against him.
ENFORCING WARRANT
Amid debates over whether dela Rosa should be arrested and turned over to the ICC, the DOJ maintained that existing law allows local authorities to do so.
Asked about the agency’s position on implementing the ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said: “Yes. Same position. Under Republic Act 9851, we may surrender a suspected or arrested person in the Philippines to the appropriate international court or tribunal. The other mode is extradition.”
Martinez however kept mum on whether the agency would issue an order to the NBI to enforce the ICC warrant on the grounds he stated.
“We will address the public and answer questions from the press in due time. We are just gathering the necessary information,” he told reporters in a Viber message.
REPUBLIC ACT 9851
Under RA 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity, the government can turn over a person wanted by an international court or tribunal through extradition or surrender.
The same law was also cited by members of the Senate minority and Palace press officer Claire Castro as basis for the legality of enforcing the ICC warrant.
Martinez, however, maintained it would be “prudent” to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on motions by Duterte and Dela Rosa, both challenging ICC jurisdiction over them, which were filed before Duterte was flown to The Hague in March 2025.
