Rights group Karapatan chides giving Bato sanctuary at Senate

BAGUIO CITY (March 18, 2025) – Human rights group Karapatan criticized Senate President Francis Escudero’s promise of providing sanctuary to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa within the Senate premises in the event an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant is issued against him.

“Escudero’s protection of Dela Rosa will delay or may even impede the latter’s transfer to the ICC’s jurisdiction,” said KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay. “It is likely to be considered as a form of obstruction of justice,” said Kristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.

Dela Rosa has been tagged as ‘Oplan Tokhang’s foremost implementer and a key figure in former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. His name is presumed to be among the redacted names of co-perpetrators in the warrant of arrest against Duterte which was issued by ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I. He is expected to be on the next set of warrants to be issued by the chamber of the international court.

Palabay stressed, “Escudero must not invoke Senate tradition to justify the coddling of a notorious human rights violator like Bato dela Rosa.” She added, “delaying or preventing his delivery to the ICC is an added injustice for the victims of extrajudicial killings under Duterte who have already waited for so many years to get this chance at exacting accountability.”