Immigration lookout vs Bato dela Rosa

Acting justice secretary Fredderick Vida confirms that Senator Bato dela Rosa is now under an immigration lookout bulletin order which can be used to monitor his movements. 

An ILBO, however, cannot prevent people from leaving the country. Only precautionary hold departure order and hold departure order – issued by courts – can do that. 

Cebu activists call for Bato Dela Rosa's arrest, Sara Duterte conviction

At the Cebu City’s Freedom Park on Friday, May 15, protesters call for Vice President Sara Duterte’s conviction and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s arrest, following the recent standoff at the Senate.

The protesters label the two officials as “wanted by the people,” and slammed the Senate majority’s “current priorities that do not meet the needs of the Filipino people.”

Photos by Gwyneth Antonio

ICC prosecutors eye November 30 as start of Duterte trial

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution has proposed November 30 as the start of the trial for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case.

In a filing dated May 15, the ICC prosecution told Trial Chamber III that it intends to complete all necessary pre-trial steps by September 30.

According to the prosecutors, the proposed timeline will provide them two months to “efficiently discharge its disclosure and other pre-trial steps” and “will consequently likely prevent problems arising during the trial which could cause delay.” @here

BRAVE, PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, May 18, filed a resolution commending journalists covering the Senate on May 13 for their bravery and professionalism during the shooting incident at the building. 

“Despite being trapped in a building with a potential active shooter, the members of the Senate Media exhibited remarkable personal bravery, prioritizing the public's right to information over their own immediate safety by continuing to cover the incident as it occurred,” Senate Resolution 400 says. 

The resolution also says “the impartial reporting of the Senate Media serves as an essential pillar of truth, protecting the integrity of our democracy during times of national crisis.” 

Read here the account of Rappler reporters Patrick Cruz and Jairo Bolledo on that chaotic, fateful night:  

https://www.rappler.com/voices/newsletters/inside-the-newsroom-covering-bato-dela-rosa-senate-may-2026/  

Ex-ICC Bar Association president is now officially Duterte's new lawyer

The International Criminal Court Trial Chamber III formalizes the appointment of Peter Haynes as former president Rodrigo Duterte's new counsel, replacing Nicholas Kaufman.

Kaufman resigns on May 8, after he was replaced by Duterte himself.

LOOK: Duterte's signed document appointing Peter Haynes as his new lawyer.

2 years later, Cebu court dismisses terrorism financing charges vs NGO

The 7th Judicial Regional Trial Court Branch 74 in Cebu City, in a court order on May 15, dismissed the case that accused 27 former and active members of Cebu-based non-governmental organization Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET) of terrorism financing.

In May 2024, the Department of Justice filed the complaint against CERNET, claiming that the NGO provided P135,000 to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in 2012.

(Screenshots of the court order provided by CERNET)

Philippine National Police chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. presents during a Palace briefing a timeline of events on May 13 in relation to the "gun-related" incident in the Senate building, which ended with Senator Ronald dela Rosa's early morning May 14 escape.

Both Nartatez and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla — citing the CIDG's initial investigation — say Senate security were aware of the activities on the GSIS side of the compound, including GSIS plans to fortify the entrances/doors or "vulnerable areas" that would allow access to the GSIS building from the Senate building. The Philippine Senate rents from the GSIS. The two buildings are within the same compound, separated by an internal gate and sealed doors in the building proper.

Based on the PNP SOCO's probe, most of the gathered catridge cases were discharged by OSAA or the Senate security.

All bullet holes indicate shots that were fired from INSIDE the Senate. No bullet holes to indicate shots fired from outside making it into the Senate.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court denies Senator Bato dela Rosa's request for a temporary restraining order to block his ICC warrant of arrest.

The question now, however, is whether the Marcos administration will take this TRO denial as a cue to arrest Dela Rosa or will wait for all issues to be resolved before making a move.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag, in a chance interview with reporters, says he has yet to see the Supreme Court's denial of a TRO and refuses comment for now. "I don't want to speculate," he tells media.

What will be the DOJ's legal framework in arresting Senator Bato dela Rosa?

"We'll cross the bridge when we get there," says DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez.

The framework could be the Republic Act No. 9851, which allows the Philippine government to directly surrender suspects to international courts. There are also arguments that Dela Rosa should be first brought to a competent court, under Rome Statute's Article 59, before being sent to The Hague.

Is this another clash of the DOJ and the OSG not agreeing on something? At the end of the day, what happens is what the principal says should happen.

Hello, Lian! I asked Vida if the arrest order came from Marcos himself, but he evaded my question.

I also asked the DOJ if whether they will follow RA 9851 or observe Article 59 of the Rome Statute. No definitive answer from the DOJ, as usual.

Talk about majot foot-dragging. It’s so embarassing when your solicitor general says something so decisively, and your justice department is hedging. Seems no one is in charge.

NEWS UPDATE: The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects former president Rodrigo Duterte's request to appeal the decision that confirmed his ICC charges in April

Via a unanimous decision, the ICC chamber confirmed all three counts of crimes against humanity case against Duterte last month.