MANILA, Philippines β National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday said the attempt to serve the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald βBatoβ dela Rosa might have gone smoothly had the Senate leadership not changed, according to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Matibag made the remark during a press briefing, noting that the current Senate leadership under Sen. Francis Escudero has been less cooperative compared to the previous leadership under Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri. The NBI chief did not provide specific details on the alleged lack of cooperation.
The ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa stems from his role as the former Philippine National Police chief during the Duterte administration's war on drugs. Dela Rosa has maintained his innocence and has questioned the ICC's jurisdiction over the Philippines, which withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.
As of May 13, 2026, the warrant has not been served, and Dela Rosa remains a senator. The Philippine government has stated it will not cooperate with the ICC investigation, citing the country's withdrawal from the court.
