Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa 'Not a Fugitive' Without Local Arrest Warrant

Sen. Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa's defense lawyer, Jimmy Bondoc, stated that the senator is not a fugitive as there is no local arrest warrant. He argued that the senator could be tried in local courts.

Mon May 18 2026

Sen. Dela Rosa Declared 'Not a Fugitive'

Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa's defense lawyer, Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, asserted that the senator is not a fugitive due to the absence of a local arrest warrant. Bondoc explained that while Republic Act (RA) 9851 recognizes 'crimes against humanity' as offenses, the law lacks a clear enforcement mechanism to authorize the senator's arrest. He believes that Dela Rosa can be tried in local courts.

Arrest Procedures and Alleged Political Motives

Atty. Bondoc noted that a shooting incident in the Senate indicates the government's desire to arrest Senator Dela Rosa without a local warrant. He stated that their fight aims to prevent short-circuiting legal mechanisms and ensure that any arrest is not politically motivated. This, he emphasized, is to prevent government opponents from being arbitrarily taken to any international court.

*Source: YouTube: ABS-CBN News (2026-05-18)*

Tags: #RonaldDelaRosa #JimmyBondoc #CrimesAgainstHumanity #PhilippineLaw #ArrestWarrant