Rep. Paolo Duterte dares government to show arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa
The Davao City 1st District lawmaker questioned the legal basis of the planned police operation and revived questions over his father's 2025 transfer to The Hague.
Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte has demanded that the national government publicly present the arrest warrant against Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, questioning the legal footing of the police operation to arrest him, according to Edge Davao.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the congressman said authorities should make the warrant and its supporting legal documents available to the public. He argued that press briefings and official announcements cannot substitute for showing the legal basis of an arrest. "Kung talagang may valid warrant of arrest, then ilabas Ninyo ang warrant!" he said, calling on officials to show the document, the legal basis and the process.
Duterte aimed part of his criticism at Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. During a Malacañang press briefing on November 3, Castro challenged Philippine National Police chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and police personnel to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against Dela Rosa.
In response, Duterte raised the March 2025 arrest of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and his transfer to the ICC in the Netherlands. He asked where the warrant in that case was and whether the transfer amounted to kidnapping, questioning why officials were now lecturing the public on the rule of law.
He accused the administration of applying legal principles selectively, saying the law should be respected consistently regardless of who is being arrested or which political camp they belong to.
Dela Rosa has not been seen in public since he left the Senate premises in the early hours of May 14, 2026, after authorities tried to serve the ICC warrant. Edge Davao reported that the warrant was issued in November 2025 and unsealed in May 2026, and concerns alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign.
On October 23, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced a P50-million reward for information leading to the senator's arrest. He described Dela Rosa as armed and dangerous and set a deadline for his surrender.
Why it matters for Davao
The dispute involves two prominent Davao political figures, and the hunt for Sen. Dela Rosa and the debate over the ICC warrants remain closely watched by residents of Davao City.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Edge Davao. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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