A former Duterte-era drug war official, commonly referred to as “Bato” Dela Rosa, urges Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to block an arrest request connected to the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to reports cited by Channel NewsAsia and Courthouse News. The push comes as the matter intersects with the Senate’s role in determining how proceedings are handled domestically.
Courthouse News reports that a spokeswoman for Marcos says the president will not “interfere in the decisions of the Senate,” which is currently taking Dela Rosa under its protection. That position indicates that the Philippines’ response is being framed as respecting legislative processes rather than direct executive action.
Taken together, the reports describe an ongoing dispute over how any ICC-related action would be treated in the Philippines, and how protections or procedural steps are managed within the country’s institutions. Both outlets link Dela Rosa’s request to the need for presidential action while also emphasizing that the Senate’s handling of his status is central to the current domestic situation.
