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'KUNG AKO SI SEN. BATO, I WOULD PRESENT MYSELF TO THE AUTHORITIES'

Para kay Sen. Erwin Tulfo, dapat nang sumuko si Sen. Bato dela Rosa sa mga awtoridad.

Kasunod ito ng utos ng Department of Justice (DOJ) na ipatupad na ang International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant laban sa senador.

"There's a saying: Flight means guilt... Why are you afraid? Come out and tell the truth and say, 'No, I did not do it," sabi ni Tulfo sa programang #PoliticalBeat ng One News.

"Kahit anong korte pa 'yan. Court sa Hague, Supreme Court, international court — it doesn't matter."

Sen. Bato Dela Rosa admitted in a one-on-one interview with Jessica Soho aired on Sunday, May 17, that he returned to the Senate to participate in the leadership change that eventually installed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President.

Asked why he resurfaced on the same day amid tensions surrounding a possible International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him, Dela Rosa confirmed there was a vote for a change in Senate leadership.

"Change of leadership ng Senado. So kung hindi ako magdating, hindi namin makuha 'yung leadership dahil ako ang pang-13th vote," he said.

When Soho asked if it was effectively a "coup" in the Senate leadership, Dela Rosa replied: "Yeah, yeah."

Dela Rosa also disclosed that it was Cayetano who personally called him and instructed him to ride in a van going to the Senate.

"Si Senator Alan Cayetano, 'yung aming majority leader," he said when asked who contacted him.

"Hindi ko alam kung kaninong van 'yun. Basta sabi ni Senator Alan, 'Sumakay ka diyan sa van,'" he added.

The senator said he was unaware that agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were allegedly waiting for him at the Senate premises.

"Ay, kung alam ko na may nag-aabang, hindi na ako papasok," he said.

Dela Rosa also recounted how he allegedly escaped after being approached by individuals identifying themselves as NBI agents near the Senate entrance.

"Pagdaan ko, tumayo sila, hinarang ako, 'Sir, sir, sir, sir, NBI kami.' Hinawakan 'yung braso ko. So nagpumiglas ako. Piglas ko gano'n, takbo na 'ko. Habulan na kami hanggang nakarating ako sa session hall," he said.

He denied claims that his injuries came solely from falling while running, saying there was physical contact during the encounter, although he clarified that he ultimately fell while fleeing.

"Ah, hindi, hindi. Pagkadapa ko sa pagtakbo ko," he said.

In their filing, the OSG urged the SC to “deny” the “Urgent Manifestation With Omnibus Motion” and the “Extremely Urgent Supplemental Manifestation With Motion” filed on May 11, 2026, stressing that the pleadings have an “utter lack of merit.”

The OSG also asked the Court to grant other reliefs it may deem “just and equitable under the premises.”

Dela Rosa’s camp earlier reiterated its request for a Temporary Restraining Order following “supervening events” at the Senate on Wednesday night. | via Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News