Palace Press Officer Claire Castro holds a press conference with Philippine police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on May 14, 2026, a day after tension gripped the Senate, amid an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Senator Bato dela Rosa over crimes of humanity charges.

Watch @here: https://www.youtube.com/live/KqEz4ty-Rfs

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano answers questions from the media after Wednesday’s gunfire in the Senate.

Watch our Facebook live @here: https://www.facebook.com/rapplerdotcom/videos/1281398560800511

The Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), co-founded by the Management Association of the Philippines, urged the Senate to convene as an impeachment court to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement signed by 11 organizations, the JRI said that any refusal to convene as an impeachment court or dismiss the case will undermine the rule of law and weaken the trust in the Senate.

"For the business community, the implications are significant. Economic stability, investment, and long-term growth depend on credible institutions and consistent adherence to constitutional processes. When the rule of law appears subordinate to political interests, investor confidence and institutional credibility suffer," they said.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE:

WATCH LIVE: The Department of Justice holds a press conference on Friday, May 15, a day after Senator Bato dela Rosa escaped from the Senate premises on May 14. https://youtu.be/eD69EwTjx8Y

OSG asks SC to deny Bato’s plea to block ICC warrant

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has asked the Supreme Court to reject Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order blocking the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him.

The OSG argued that the Senator’s actions are “consistent with those of a fugitive from justice.”

“The essence of fugitive behavior is not limited to crossing national borders but extends to any deliberate effort to place oneself beyond the reach of lawful judicial process,” the OSG said in its 83-page comment filed on Saturday, May 16.

The ICC confirmed on May 11 that it had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa for the alleged crime against humanity of murder linked to extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

After being placed under protective custody inside the Senate, Dela Rosa later left the premises in the early hours of Thursday, May 14, following a gunfire incident the night before. @here