The Senate will hear dela Rosa’s plea of not playing amid a possible ICC warrant
The Senate Ethics Committee will meet next week to consider complaints against several members of the legislature, including the absence complaint against Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa, who has been on the run for months as it is reported that he may be arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the Philippines’ war on drugs.
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, on Thursday said the body will hold a closed session on March 4 to adopt its rules and begin consideration of pending cases.
“[There will be an] The executive session among the members – the agenda is the adoption of the laws and we will continue with the examination of the cases,” he told reporters in a message from the Viber group.
This committee is unable to meet for several months due to lack of members and scheduling constraints.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III authorized the use of the Senate President’s conference room to speed up the meeting, Mr. Ejercito.
Among the appeals set to be reviewed is the one filed in Mr. dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief and chief architect of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
A civil society organization, Wag Kang KuCorrupt, filed an ethics complaint this week, accusing the senator of dereliction of duty due to prolonged absences from Senate sessions and committee hearings.
Mr. dela Rosa has not attended sessions since Nov. 11. 2025, when reports emerged about an ICC arrest warrant related to its investigation into the drug war.
The ICC was investigating alleged crimes against humanity associated with Mr.
In court documents related to the investigation, Mr. dela Rosa and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go were identified as co-conspirators in the implementation of the ban campaign while they held key government positions.
Mr. dela Rosa served as national police chief during the height of the campaign, while Mr. Go was Mr. Duterte’s long-time aide and later became a special assistant to the President. Both have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
There has never been public confirmation of a warrant for Mr. dela Rosa. The senator previously questioned the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines, which withdrew from the Rome Convention in 2019 under Mr. Duterte.
In his complaint, Wag Kang KuCorruption said that Mr. dela Rosa at work means “flagrant disregard for duty” and it is dangerous to delay the work of the law.
The group argued that committee hearings are critical to lawmaking and oversight, and that long absences weaken accountability.
Mr. Ejercito said complaints before the ethics panel will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Whatever is submitted first, we will hear it first,” he said.
In all, six complaints were filed against Senator Francis G. Escudero, Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Mr. dela Rosa and Mr. Ejercito himself.
Mr. Ejercito refused to disclose the details of the two complaints, saying it would be inappropriate to discuss cases that might be considered insufficient.
A complaint was filed for good behavior to Mr. Ejercito for his alleged failure to immediately take action in the case involving Mr. Escudero, who is accused of receiving campaign funds from a contractor linked to the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
Ms. Hontiveros is facing another complaint related to witness tampering in the Senate case investigating the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The reopening of the ethics panel sets the stage for politically sensitive moves, especially as scrutiny of lawmakers related to the ICC’s drug war investigation grows. – AH Hello
